NEW YORK – The Friends of John Mackey announced Monday eight semifinalists for the 2016 John Mackey Award, presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, and for the first time in program history a member of the University of South Alabama football program advanced from a preseason watch list to be considered for a national honor.
Jaguar senior Gerald Everett was included among the group of candidates determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The finalists for the honor will be released on Nov. 22, with the recipient of the 2016 John Mackey Award announced on Dec. 7 and the presentation of the trophy scheduled the following night at The Home Depot College Football Awards show that will be televised on ESPNU.
The recognition comes after Everett was extended an invitation on Friday to play in the 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl.
In addition to making the John Mackey Award Preseason and Midseason Watch Lists, he was chosen the first John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week after posting a contest-high eight catches for 95 yards including the game-winning score on a four-yard reception with just 57 seconds remaining in a 21-20 victory at Mississippi State. He has caught three passes in each of the Jags' first nine outings this fall, and was the first member of the program to record 100 or more yards receiving in back-to-back games after leading all players with 103 yards in a 42-24 victory over then-No. 19 San Diego State and 125 at Arkansas State.
Everett — who hails from Lithonia, Ga. — ranks second nationally among tight ends with nearly 71 receiving yards per contest and is also among the top five with over four-and-a-half catches per outing. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound, senior is also among the top five in the Sun Belt Conference in both categories, as he enters USA's game Saturday night against Presbyterian leading the squad with 41 catches for 637 yards and four touchdowns. The yardage total is the most ever by a Jaguar tight end, ranking third on the school's season record list, while he is also among the top five for receptions and top 10 for touchdown catches in a year in USA's record books.
The other seven semifinalists, listed alphabetically, include: Adam Breneman (Massachusetts), Jake Butt (Michigan), Evan Engram (Mississippi), Cole Hikutini (Louisville), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech), O.J. Howard (Alabama) and Jordan Leggett (Clemson).
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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