Northwestern junior Drake Dunsmore and Wisconsin senior tight end Lance Kendricks are two of the 32 players named to the 2010 John Mackey Award preseason watch list,which is given annually to the top tight end in the college football. In addition to Dunsmore and Kendricks, three additional Big Ten players were named to the list.
The winner will be announced on December 9, 2010. Dunsmore, who plays NU’s hybrid tight end/fullback position known as a superback, ranked second among Big Ten tight ends with 47 receptions a year ago, capping his season with a career-best nine catches for 120 yards inclusive of a spectacular 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.
He also has been named a preseason All-Big Ten second-team choice by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele’s.
Kendricks looks to extend the Badgers’ tradition of strong tight end play in 2010. He ranked fourth on the team in receptions (29) and receiving yards (356) in 2009, including a seven-catch, 128-yard performance against Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl. He also had a breakout game on the ground against Purdue, rushing for 91 yards on four carries.
In addition to the Mackey Award watch list, the Milwaukee native has earned several other honors in the preseason. He was named second-team All-American by Lindy’s and Athlon Sports and a third-team All-American by Phil Steele. In addition, Steele and Athlon both named the tight end as first-team All-Big Ten. Kendricks was also named to the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award.
No Badger has ever won the Mackey Award, but Travis Beckum was a semifinalist in 2006 and a finalist the following year.
• John Mackey Award preseason watch list
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