Ryan Griffin, Hubie Graham Named To Mackey Award Watch List

By Mark Ennis@MarkEnnis Jul 10, 2012, 10:28am EDT

Day two of watch list-mania is here. Today, the John Mackey Award Watch List was released. The Mackey Award is given annually to honor the nation's best tight end. The Big East has not suffered at the tight end position the last few years and this year there are a couple of talented guys that found their way onto the watch list as well.

Although virtually passing statistics at Connecticut have been hurt by the instability (and inability?) at quarterback, tight end Ryan Griffin made the award watch list after recording 33 receptions for 499 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Pittsburgh tight end Hubie Graham also made the watch list and should enjoy a big season in new head coach Paul Chryst's offenses that uses the tight end extensively in the passing game and in a much more traditional way than Todd Graham did last year.

I suspect that by year's end, South Florida's Evan Landi, Louisville's Nate Nord, and Cincinnati's Travis Kelce will also be considered some of the nation's better receiving targets at tight end.

You can view the full list after the jump.

JOHN MACKEY AWARD

Alex Bayer, Bowling Green

Ted Bolser, Indiana

Chase Clement, LSU

Jack Doyle, Western Kentucky

Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Gavin Escobar, San Diego State

Joseph Fauria, UCLA

C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa

Brandon Ford, Clemson

Matt Furstenburg, Maryland