Evan Engram named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram was among the 45 tight ends in collegiate football to be named to the John Mackey Award Watch List on Wednesday morning. This is Engram’s third consecutive season being named to the watch list for the award given to the best tight end in all of college football.
Redefining the position
Engram takes off against Auburn. (Photo credit: Bentley Breland)
Engram continues to redefine the position of flex end with his combination of excellent speed and tremendous blocking ability. It is rare to find someone like Engram who can make all the catches and cuts as a receiver and still line up as a tight end on 4th and 1 and effectively block an SEC defensive end—not to mention his deadly crossover, kick-out blocks on opposite side unsuspecting defensive ends.
Engram, a three-time All-Southeastern Conference pick and a two time All-America selection, already holds school records for receptions (97) and receiving yards (1,394) by a tight end. In 2014, Engram set a school record with 662 receiving yards.
In 2015 Engram finished with 464 receiving yards, but his blocking skills were even more evident under dual-threat quarterback Chad Kelly, as Engram helped the Ole Miss offense become one of the most explosive in the SEC.
Engram, a native of Powder Springs, Georgia, currently ranks fifth among Ole Miss tight ends with seven career touchdown catches. The former Hillgrove High product has played in 34 games over his career as a Rebel, including all 26 of the team’s games over the past two years.
Mackey Award to be announced December 7, 2016
The winner of this season’s John Mackey Award will be announced on Dec. 7, 2016 then presented live on Dec. 8, 2016 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. The winner will be selected by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Virginia Tech’s Bucky Hodges–along with Engram–are among the top tight ends on the list. Click here for the complete list.
Arkansas’ Hunter Henry, who was drafted in the second round by the San Diego Chargers, won the Mackey Award last season.
(Feature image credit: Amanda Swain for The Rebel Walk)
Courtney Smith
Courtney is from Memphis and received his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Memphis in May of 2014. He began his journalism career covering the Memphis Tigers Men's basketball team, which landed him an intern position on 730 Yahoo Sports Radio and a position with Rivals.com. A freelance writer for the Associated Press, Courtney is also a member of The Rebel Walk team and reports regularly on Ole Miss football and basketball. Courtney, the father of a six-year old girl named Soniyah, prefers to cover NCAA basketball and football, but is happy to report on any other sport that comes his way.
