Reports: Transfer TE from Arizona State represents Texas Tech on the Mackey Award preseason watchlist.
Texas Tech TE finds himself on the Mackey Award preseason watchlist
One player generating significant excitement among Texas Tech football fans this fall is Jalin Conyers, a transfer tight end from Arizona State. The Gruver, Texas native is regarded as one of the most versatile athletes on the roster, and on Friday, he earned a spot on the Mackey Award preseason watchlist.
Last season, Conyers registered 454 total yards from scrimmage along with one touchdown. To contend for the Mackey Award in 2024, he’ll need to improve on those numbers, as the award is given annually to the nation’s best tight end.
The 2023 recipient, Brock Bowers from Georgia, recorded 714 receiving yards and six touchdowns over ten games. While run and pass blocking skills are also considered, most awards ultimately hinge on statistics.
The Mackey Award honors John Mackey, a former NFL tight end. As stated on the award’s website, “Dedicated to John Mackey’s legacy, the award aims to promote true passion, dedication, and raise health awareness for football in schools, particularly at the college level and among youth.”
Mackey Award Watch List → Jalin Conyers ⭐️@therealjconyers | #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/TjkUW2NFIM
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) August 9, 2024
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, Mackey was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-NFL player. In 2001, the John Mackey Award was created by the Nassau County Sports Commission to honor the top college tight end, celebrating the legacy of the former Syracuse player.
No Texas Tech athlete has received the Mackey Award, but a recent Red Raider faced some controversy related to it.
In 2013, Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro recorded 106 receptions for 1,352 yards and seven touchdowns, the highest stats for any tight end in the country. However, the Mackey Award committee did not classify Amaro as a traditional tight end due to his limited time on the line of scrimmage, viewing him instead as a wide receiver. As a result, he wasn’t nominated for the award, despite being an obvious candidate had he been eligible.
This year, Conyers is expected to be used in a similar way to Amaro, lining up in various positions, including across the formation, in the backfield, and even at quarterback in certain plays.
The Mackey Award seems to classify Conyers as a true tight end, and hopefully, he will achieve impressive statistics, putting the Red Raiders in contention for the award by the end of the season.