Preseason awards watchlist season continues rolling along! On Friday, the John Mackey Award watchlist was announced with 10 Big Ten players honored.
In the first week, the Maxwell Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy, Ray Gay Award, and Lou Groza Awards were all previewed. Before the Mackey Award watchlist was announced, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Doak Walker Award, Biletnikoff Award, and Davey O’Brien Award watchlists had already dropped.
10 Big Ten Tight Ends Named to Mackey Award Watchlist
Luke Lachey, Iowa
There hasn’t been another program to produce quite as many high-end NFL tight ends as Iowa and Luke Lachey could be next. In his time, Lachey has yet to be the featured tight end. Considering the talent of those before him, that’s not much of a dig. Last year, his season came to an end after three games due to a right ankle injury.
Thus far in his career, Lachey has appeared in 30 games for the Hawkeyes. He has hauled in 46 passes for 662 yards and four touchdowns. Iowa is tied with three other schools with two Mackey Awards, could Lachey be number three?
Tyler Warren, Penn State
The Nittany Lions have had plenty of high-end tight end talent and Tyler Warren took a step forward in 2023 as a receiving threat. In his first three seasons with Penn State, Warren notched 15 receptions for 184 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023 alone, he accounted for 34 receptions for 422 yards and seven touchdowns.
Warren is coming off his best game as a Nittany Lion. In the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss, he paced the Penn State offense with five catches for 127 yards in the loss.
Thomas Fidone, Nebraska
The next from the Big Ten on the Mackey Award watchlist, Thomas Fidone, is entering his redshirt junior season with the Cornhuskers. After appearing in just one game as a freshman with no stats, and redshirting in 2022, he amassed 260 yards and four touchdowns off just 25 receptions.
He led the Nebraska offense with four touchdowns and was the second-leading receiver in both receptions and yards. As a recruit, Fidone was the top-rated tight end recruit of the 2021 cycle and 46th regardless of position. He’s set to break out with a new quarterback and a fully healthy season.
Colston Loveland, Michigan
Perhaps the most talented tight end in the conference, and the near-unanimous pick to be a First-Team All-Big Ten selection at the position, Colston Loveland has NFL written all over him. He was also honored on the Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Award watchlists.
In his freshman season, Loveland gave Michigan a taste with 235 yards and two scores off 16 receptions. He appeared in all 14 games for the Wolverines in 2022, making it obvious great things were to come. Last year, he appeared in all 15 games and recorded at least one catch in each. In total, Loveland amassed 649 yards and four touchdowns with 45 catches for the Wolverines.
Cole Rusk, Illinois
Illinois is Cole Rusk’s third team in four seasons and his first at the Power 4 level. Initially, Rusk was a member of the Easter Michigan program.
At Eastern Michigan, Rusk only appeared in one game over his two seasons on campus. Then, he jumped down to the FCS level and found success at Murray State. With the Racers, Rusk broke out to the tune of 507 yards and six touchdowns off 39 receptions. His efforts earned him both Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention and Third-Team FCS All-American honors.
Jack Veiling, Michigan State
With the defection of Jonathan Smith from Oregon State to Michigan State, he brought a handful of players. One of those players, is the top Big Ten tight end transfer, Jack Velling. Velling started seven times for the Beavers and amassed 281 yards and three touchdowns.
Last year, Velling took another step. In 11 starts, Velling recorded 438 yards and eight touchdowns. Those eight scores tied the FBS lead among tight ends and broke the Oregon State record for the position.
Zach Horton, Indiana
Speaking of coaches moving into the Big Ten and bringing his players, Curt Cignetti brought his tight end, Zach Horton. As a member of the James Madison Dukes over the last two seasons, Horton amassed 434 yards and eight touchdowns off 40 receptions.
Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
Few programs have higher expectations than Oregon and Terrance Ferguson is due to be a big part of the Ducks’ plans. He’s been consistently producing and set career bests with 42 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns a year ago.
If there is going to be a tight end that finishes ahead of Loveland, it looks like it’ll be Ferguson.
Thomas Gordon, Northwestern
One of the older Big Ten players on the Mackey Award watchlist, Thomas Gordon is entering his redshirt senior season. In his first three sseasons, Gordon only managed three yards off two receptions. Over his last two years, he has accounted for 274 yards and one touchdown off 25 receptions.
Moliki Matavao, UCLA
Finally, the top tight end for another Pac-12-to-Big-Ten program, Moliki Matavao looks to be the second UCLA Bruin to take home the Mackey Award. In two seasons with Oregon, Matavao posted 209 yards and two touchdowns off 19 receptions. He also added one three-yard touchdown run in 2022.
In his first season at UCLA last year, Matavao hauled in 14 passes for 283 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
