Eastern Michigan Athletics

Tyreese Russell
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios

Tyreese Russell on John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List

10/13/2014 10:10:00 AM | Football

Senior tight end one of 33 to be recognized nationally

NEW YORK, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior tight end Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) is one of 33 tight ends nationwide who has been named to the 2014 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List. The Chicago, Ill. native is one of only four players from the Mid-American Conference on the midseason list. The semifinalists for the Mackey Award will be announced on Nov. 17 while the finalists will be announced on Nov. 24. The nation's top tight end will be announced live on Dec. 10 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show in Orlando, Fla., on ESPNU.

At 6-3, 238 pounds, Russell leads the Eagles in receptions with 15 catches for 150 yards (10.0 avg.) and a touchdown through EMU's first six games. He has highlighted his final season so far by snagging six balls for a 48 yards in the win over Morgan State University, Aug. 30.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position.  A tight end by whom all others are measured, 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 John Mackey Award presented since 2000, lists thirteen alumni to have played in the NFL: two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham ('01), 2006 Super Bowl Champion Dallas Clark ('02), Kellen Winslow II ('03), two-time Super Bowl Champion Heath Miller ('04) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis ('05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 2008 Super Bowl Champion Matt Spaeth ('06) of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fred Davis ('07), Chase Coffman ('08) of the Tennessee Titans, Aaron Hernandez ('09), D.J. Williams ('10),  Dwayne Allen ('11) of the Indianapolis Colts, Tyler Eifert ('12)  of the Cincinnati Bengals and Austin Seferian-Jenkins ('13) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The EMU football team hits the road for its next contest when the Eagles take on the University of Massachusetts Minutemen.  Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as well as the airwaves of WEMU.

2014 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List
Rory Anderson, Sr, South Carolina
Kennard Backman, Sr, UAB
EJ Bibbs, Sr, Iowa St
Gerald Christian, Sr, Louisville
Evan Engram, So, Ole Miss
Billy Freeman, So, San Jose St
David Grinnage, So, NC State
Connor Hamlett, Sr, Oregon St
Mitchell Henry, Sr, WKU
Jeff Heuerman, Sr, Ohio St
Bucky Hodges, Fr, Virginia Tech
Austin Hooper, So, Stanford
OJ Howard, So, Alabama
Jesse James, Jr, Penn St
Malcolm Johnson, Sr, Mississippi St
Ben Koyack, Sr, Notre Dame
Tyler Kroft, Jr, Rutgers
Jimmay Mundine, Sr, Kansas
Nick O'Leary, Sr, Florida St
Casey Pierce, Sr, Kent St
Joel Ruiz, Jr, Georgia St
Tyreese Russell, Sr, Eastern Michigan
Wes Saxton, Sr, South Alabama
Cam Serigne, Fr, Wake Forest
Jean Sifrin, Jr, Massachusetts
Justin Sinz, Sr, Purdue
Jonnu Smith, So, FIU
Randall Telfer, Sr, USC
Eric Tomlinson, Sr, UTEP
CJ Uzomah, Sr, Auburn
Clive Walford, Sr, Miami, FL
Alex Welch, Sr, Miami, OH
Maxx Williams, So, Minnesota
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