Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tyreese Russell Named to John Mackey Award Watch List
7/8/2014 10:27:00 AM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
The senior tight end is up for an honor that goes to the nation's best collegiate tight end
NEW YORK, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University senior tight end Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) has been named to the 2014 John Mackey Award Watch List, an honor presented annually for the nation's best collegiate tight end, the award's selection committee announced, July 8.
After being named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List in 2013, Russell is on the award's preseason watch list for the first time in his career. On the list, he joins two other tight ends from Mid-American Conference institutions in Kent State University's Casey Pierce and Northern Illinois University's Luke Eakes.
Entering the 2014 campaign, the preseason recognition continues to build for the EMU senior as Russell has been tabbed as a preseason All-MAC tight end by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Russell started all 12 games in 2013, leading the team in catches with 44 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdowns ranked second-most among the All-MAC tight end nominees. Named to the 2013 Mid-Season All-MAC team by Phil Steele and to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List, Russell finished with an average of 13.5 yards per catch. The Chicago, Ill. native had his best performance when he caught nine passes for 84 yards at Rutgers, Sept. 14. He also hauled in eight catches for 73 yards at Penn State, Sept. 7, and a career-best 90 yards on four receptions at nationally-ranked Northern Illinois, Oct. 26.
The award, which is presented by Friends of John Mackey, honors Pro Football Hall of Fame member John Mackey. In 10 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Colts (1963-71) and the San Diego Chargers (1972), Mackey revolutionized the tight end position. He twice compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch, and his 10-year career average of 15.8 yards per catch is considered remarkable for a tight end. Mackey also was the first president of the NFLPA.
Fans can catch Russell and the rest of the Eagles kick off the 2014 season at home against Morgan State, Aug. 30, which will be the first game on the new "EMU Gray" FieldTurf inside Rynearson Stadium. Single game and season tickets are now on sale online at EMUEagles.com, by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices start at just $12 for adults and $5 for youth 12-and-under.
2014 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
Tyreese Russell, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Rory Anderson, Senior, South Carolina
Kennard Backman, Senior, UAB
Blake Bell, Senior, Oklahoma
EJ Bibbs, Senior, Iowa State
Pharaoh Brown, Junior, Oregon
Kyle Carter, Junior, Penn State
Kivon Cartwright, Senior, Colorado State
Gerald Christian, Senior, Louisville
Braxton Deaver, Senior, Duke
Thomas Duarte, Sophomore, UCLA
Luke Eakes, Senior, Northern Illinois
Evan Engram, Sophomore, Ole Miss
Billy Freeman, Sophomore, San Jose State
Darion Griswold, Junior, Arkansas State
Connor Hamlett, Senior, Oregon State
Hunter Henry, Sophomore, Arkansas
Mitchell Henry, Senior, WKU
Jeff Heuerman, Senior, Ohio State
Wyatt Houston, Sophomore, Utah State
OJ Howard, Sophomore, Alabama
Jesse James, Junior, Penn State
Malcolm Johnson, Senior, Mississippi State
Ben Koyack, Senior, Notre Dame
Tyler Kroft, Junior, Rutgers
Devin Mahina, Senior, BYU
Taylor McNamara, Sophomore, Oklahoma
Jimmy Mundine, Senior, Kansas
Johnny Mundt, Sophomore, Oregon
De'Marieya Nelson, Senior, Arizona State
Nick O'Leary, Senior, Florida State
Casey Pierce, Senior, Kent State
Sean Price, Junior, USF
Jay Rome, Junior, Georgia
Wes Saxton, Senior, South Alabama
Randall Telfer, Senior, USC
Eric Tomlinson, Senior, UTEP
C.J. Uzomah, Senior, Auburn
After being named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List in 2013, Russell is on the award's preseason watch list for the first time in his career. On the list, he joins two other tight ends from Mid-American Conference institutions in Kent State University's Casey Pierce and Northern Illinois University's Luke Eakes.
Entering the 2014 campaign, the preseason recognition continues to build for the EMU senior as Russell has been tabbed as a preseason All-MAC tight end by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
Russell started all 12 games in 2013, leading the team in catches with 44 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdowns ranked second-most among the All-MAC tight end nominees. Named to the 2013 Mid-Season All-MAC team by Phil Steele and to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List, Russell finished with an average of 13.5 yards per catch. The Chicago, Ill. native had his best performance when he caught nine passes for 84 yards at Rutgers, Sept. 14. He also hauled in eight catches for 73 yards at Penn State, Sept. 7, and a career-best 90 yards on four receptions at nationally-ranked Northern Illinois, Oct. 26.
The award, which is presented by Friends of John Mackey, honors Pro Football Hall of Fame member John Mackey. In 10 NFL seasons with the Baltimore Colts (1963-71) and the San Diego Chargers (1972), Mackey revolutionized the tight end position. He twice compiled season averages of more than 20 yards a catch, and his 10-year career average of 15.8 yards per catch is considered remarkable for a tight end. Mackey also was the first president of the NFLPA.
Fans can catch Russell and the rest of the Eagles kick off the 2014 season at home against Morgan State, Aug. 30, which will be the first game on the new "EMU Gray" FieldTurf inside Rynearson Stadium. Single game and season tickets are now on sale online at EMUEagles.com, by calling 734.487.2282 or by visiting the EMU Ticket Office daily between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices start at just $12 for adults and $5 for youth 12-and-under.
2014 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
Tyreese Russell, Senior, Eastern Michigan
Rory Anderson, Senior, South Carolina
Kennard Backman, Senior, UAB
Blake Bell, Senior, Oklahoma
EJ Bibbs, Senior, Iowa State
Pharaoh Brown, Junior, Oregon
Kyle Carter, Junior, Penn State
Kivon Cartwright, Senior, Colorado State
Gerald Christian, Senior, Louisville
Braxton Deaver, Senior, Duke
Thomas Duarte, Sophomore, UCLA
Luke Eakes, Senior, Northern Illinois
Evan Engram, Sophomore, Ole Miss
Billy Freeman, Sophomore, San Jose State
Darion Griswold, Junior, Arkansas State
Connor Hamlett, Senior, Oregon State
Hunter Henry, Sophomore, Arkansas
Mitchell Henry, Senior, WKU
Jeff Heuerman, Senior, Ohio State
Wyatt Houston, Sophomore, Utah State
OJ Howard, Sophomore, Alabama
Jesse James, Junior, Penn State
Malcolm Johnson, Senior, Mississippi State
Ben Koyack, Senior, Notre Dame
Tyler Kroft, Junior, Rutgers
Devin Mahina, Senior, BYU
Taylor McNamara, Sophomore, Oklahoma
Jimmy Mundine, Senior, Kansas
Johnny Mundt, Sophomore, Oregon
De'Marieya Nelson, Senior, Arizona State
Nick O'Leary, Senior, Florida State
Casey Pierce, Senior, Kent State
Sean Price, Junior, USF
Jay Rome, Junior, Georgia
Wes Saxton, Senior, South Alabama
Randall Telfer, Senior, USC
Eric Tomlinson, Senior, UTEP
C.J. Uzomah, Senior, Auburn
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