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July 31, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham is among those on the preseason watch list for the 2008 John Mackey Award. The honor is presented annually by the Nassau County Sports Commission to the top tight end in college football.

The 6-6, 261-pound Gresham, who also is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award as college football's top overall player, was an honorable mention All-American last year by Sports Illustrated after hauling in 37 receptions for 518 yards and 11 touchdowns. The TD figure was the second-highest in school history.

A junior from Ardmore, Okla., Gresham ranks No. 11 all-time at Oklahoma with 12 touchdown grabs.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, lists seven NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark ('01) of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham ('02) of the Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow II ('03) of the Cleveland Browns, Heath Miller ('04) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis ('05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Matt Spaeth ('06) of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2007 John Mackey Award recipient Fred Davis of the Washington Redskins.

In 2002, OU's Trent Smith was a finalist for the Mackey Award.