Richard GwinPlayers and coaches on Big 12 defenses won’t be the only folks looking out for Kansas University senior tight end Jimmay Mundine this fall.
The John Mackey Award Selection Committee has placed Mundine, a 6-foot-2 senior from Denison, Texas, on its preseason watch list.
Awarded to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate tight end since 2000, the Mackey Award is named in honor of collegiate and professional all-time great John Mackey, a product of Syracuse. He played 10 years of professional football as a tight end. Spending nine seasons with the Baltimore Colts and one year with the San Diego Chargers, Mackey found success on and off the field as he was a Super Bowl champion and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame, as well as the first president of the National Football League Players Association.
Mundine was one of three tight ends hailing from the Big 12 Conference, and one of the 38 total nominees, selected for the committee’s preliminary watch list. Mundine returns as KU’s active leader in touchdown catches (eight), while ranking second in receptions (41) and receiving yards (498).
After a breakout year in 2013, Mundine completed the season in third place among Big 12 tight ends in receptions and yards, resulting in All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors as voted by league coaches. Out of the nine total touchdowns thrown by Kansas quarterbacks a season ago, Mundine caught a team-high five, including a streak of four straight games with a touchdown reception.
Semifinalists for the award will be revealed on Nov. 17, while on Nov. 24 the list will be trimmed down to three finalists. The winner of the 2014 Mackey Award will be announced on Dec. 11 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show.
KU’s 2014 season begins Sept. 6, when the Jayhawks play host to Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.
Stuckey back in town
Former KU safety and current San Diego Charger Darrell Stuckey will host a one-day clinic for area youth ages 14-18 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Free State High.
The Darrell Stuckey FUNdamentals Camp will feature USA Football’s FUNdamentals curriculum, which is designed to introduce young players to football by teaching basic skills and drills in a non-contact setting.
To register, log on to www.usafootball.com/fun.
