NEW YORK – Already under consideration for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the University of South Alabama's Gerald Everett was one of 30 individuals on the Midseason Watch List for the honor released Wednesday.
Not only was the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Lithonia, Ga., resident on the John Mackey Award Selection Committee's preseason watch list, he was named the initial Tight End of the Week by the organization after the Jaguars' season-opening victory at Mississippi State.
In that game, the senior had a career-best eight receptions for 95 yards, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a four-yard catch with only 57 seconds left in regulation. He paced South after catching seven balls for 83 yards at Louisiana-Lafayette — including a touchdown with just under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game — while last time out Everett recorded five receptions for a season-high 103 yards to help the Jaguars earn their first-ever victory over a nationally-ranked opponent with a 42-24 defeat of No. 19 San Diego State.
He leads the team with 26 catches for 393 yards and three touchdowns as USA is off to a 3-2 start entering Saturday's contest at defending Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State, ranking second in the league in receiving yards per game while standing fourth with more than five receptions per outing. Everett is ranked among the top 55 in the country in both statistical categories as well.
Coming into the weekend, Everett stands sixth in school history with 67 catches and is seventh in receiving yards, needing just 32 more to reach 1,000 in his career. His 11 touchdown receptions are third on the program's all-time list, while he also ranks fourth with 15 total touchdowns and seventh in scoring with 90 points.
The 2016 recipient — chosen by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee — will be announced on Dec. 7, with the award presented live the following night at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. A total of 14 winners of the award have gone on to play in the National Football League since it was first presented at the end of the 2000 campaign.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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