Kemari Averett & Micky Crum Named to Mackey Award Watch List

Mark BlankenbakerJuly 21, 2018

University of Louisville tight ends Kemari Averett and Micky Crum were named to the 2018 John Mackey Award preseason watch list Friday.

The John Mackey Award has been given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end since 2000.

Averett and Crum were one of 63 players on this year’s watch list.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Averett played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2017. Making one start, Averett finished his rookie campaign with seven receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown. He caught a pair of passes in games versus Murray State and Wake Forest, while scoring his first career touchdown on a 22-yard catch against Boston College.

Hampered by injuries last season, Crum recorded eight catches for 99 yards, while averaging 12.4 yards a reception. The Columbus, Ohio native caught a season-high three passes for 30 yards in a win over Murray State.

Throughout his career, Crum has appeared in 28 games, recording 23 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns.

Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2018 Mackey Award recipient will be announced on December 5, 2018 and then presented live on December 6, 2018 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. All future announcements can be found at www.johnmackeyaward.com.

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 recognizes fifteen alumni that 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), Marcedes Lewis (‘05) of the Green Bay Packers, 2008 Super Bowl Champion Matt Spaeth (‘06), Fred Davis (‘07), Chase Coffman (‘08), D.J. Williams (‘10), Dwayne Allen (’11) of the New England Patriots, Tyler Eifert (’12) of the Cincinnati Bengals, Austin Seferian-Jenkins (’13) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Nick O’Leary (’14) of the Buffalo Bills, Hunter Henry (’15) of the Los Angeles Chargers, Jake Butt (16’) of the Denver Broncos and 2017 John Mackey Award recipient Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens