Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawkeyes in the NFL | Hawk Talk Monthly — Oct. 2016
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior tight end George Kittle has been named to the 2016 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List. The announcement was made Wednesday by the Mackey Award Committee. The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding tight end.
Kittle has started every game for the Hawkeyes this season, hauling in 15 catches for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Norman, Oklahoma, native enjoyed a career day against North Dakota State in week three, tallying 110 receiving yards on five receptions, including Iowa’s longest pass reception of the season (51 yards). Kittle is averaging 16.6 yards per catch through six games — best on the team.
In 2015, Kittle played in all 14 games, notching six starts. He hauled in 20 receptions for 290 yards and led Iowa with six touchdown receptions, including the only touchdown of the game in Iowa’s 10-6 victory at Wisconsin. Kittle’s breakout season earned him honorable mention All-American status from SI.com.
Prior to the 2015 season, Kittle had tallied six receptions for a total of 133 yards — he redshirted as a freshman in 2012. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree has appeared in 44 games during his Hawkeye career.
This year’s John Mackey Award recipient, selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, will be announced on Dec. 7 and presented live on Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.
Dallas Clark, who won the honor in 2002, is Iowa’s only Mackey Award winner. The award was first introduced in 2000.
Kittle and the Hawkeyes travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, this Saturday, looking for their fifth win of the season in a Big Ten showdown with Purdue. The game is scheduled for 11:01 a.m. (CT) and will be televised live on ESPN2.
