Gronkowski Named to Mackey Watch List
7/31/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 31, 2008
MANHASSET, N.Y. - University of Maryland senior tight end Dan Gronkowski was named Thursday to the watch list for the 2008 John Mackey Award in an announcement by the Nassau County Sports Commission.
Gronkowski is one of 30 student-athletes on the watch list (www.nassausports.org). He is joined by two fellow Atlantic Coast Conference representatives - Ryan Purvis of Boston College and Sam Wheeler of Virginia Tech, as well as his brother Rob, who plays for the University of Arizona.
Bestowed annually upon the nation's best collegiate tight end, the award honors NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey, who starred at Syracuse and revolutionized the tight end position during his 10-year professional career. The selection committee will announce the winner in mid-December. Former USC standout Fred Davis, now of the Washington Redskins, was the recipient of the 2007 Mackey Award.
An Academic All-America nominee the last two seasons, Gronkowski should vie for conference honors this season. He caught seven passes for 66 yards in 2007, despite being used primarily as a blocking tight end. Gronkowski is the fourth consecutive Terrapin tight end to garner inclusion on the Mackey Award watch list, joining Vernon Davis (2005), Jason Goode (2006) and Joey Haynos (2007).
The Mackey Award, presented since 2000, lists seven NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark (2001) of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham (2002) of the Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow II (2003) of the Cleveland Browns, Heath Miller (2004) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis (2005) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Matt Spaeth (200) also of the Steelers and Davis.
Gronkowski and his teammates commence preseason camp this weekend, with the first practice scheduled for Monday. The Terps kick off the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, when they play host to Delaware at 3:45 p.m. from Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
