The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sanders named to John Mackey Award watch list
08.04.2023 | Football
Texas junior TE Ja’Tavion Sanders was selected to the watch list for the award honoring the most outstanding collegiate tight end.
NEW YORK – Texas junior tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was named to the John Mackey Award watch list, The Friends of John Mackey announced on Friday. It marks the second consecutive year in which Sanders has landed on the preseason watch list for the award that honors college football's most outstanding tight end.
Ja'Tavion Sanders has been named to the John Mackey Award watch list 🤘@Jatavionsanders pic.twitter.com/vRCZjHi7vZ
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) August 4, 2023
Sanders, a Denton, Texas native, has appeared in 25 games with 13 starts. The third-year tight end earned first-team all-conference accolades last season from the league's coaches and the Associated Press after hauling in 54 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, leading Big 12 tight ends in receptions and receiving yards and ranking second in touchdowns. A semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, the 54 receptions last season were the most for a tight end in a year in program history and his 613 receiving yards tied for second-most in a season by a Texas tight end. For his career, Sanders ranks eighth all-time among Longhorn tight ends in receptions (54) and 10th in receiving yards (613).
In addition to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list, Sanders was selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team by the conference's media representatives. He has also been recognized as a preseason All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The award is named for NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who is considered to be one of the best to have played the tight end position. Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA. The award is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
