O.J. Howard named a Mackey Award finalist, Evan Engram snubbed
With the 2016 regular season winding down, many awards are naming their finalists on Monday. The John Mackey Award, which goes to the top tight end, has one finalist from the SEC, but it’s not the name you might expect.
Per the John Mackey Award official site:
“The Friends of John Mackey have announced three finalists for the 2016 John Mackey Award. Listed alphabetically, they are Jake Butt (SR, Michigan), O.J. Howard (SR, Alabama) and Jordan Leggett (SR, Clemson).”
Despite leading all SEC pass-catchers, Ole Miss TE Evan Engram was not named a finalist. Engram has 65 catches, third most in the SEC, for a conference-leading 926 receiving yards. Alabama TE O.J. Howard has 30 receptions for 359 yards.
For additional reference, Michigan’s TE Butt has 38 catches for 460 yards and Clemson’s TE Leggett has 31 catches for 530 yards. Additionally, Engram has as many touchdown receptions this season (10) as the other three tight ends have combined…
People are taking to Twitter to voice their frustrations, including Engram’s head coach:
Wow! @EvanEngram is so deserving to be a finalist for @JohnMackeyAward. What a shame. Such a great kid and player who earned this right
— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/PeterBurnsESPN/status/800827929471098880
So Evan Engram leads all tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns, and he's not a finalist for the Mackey Award? https://t.co/edoEuVJXze
— Greg Ostendorf (@greg_ostendorf) November 21, 2016
I try to avoid getting #madonline but leaving Evan Engram off the Mackey Award finalist list is indefensible. Don't like Ole Miss? Fine.
— Andy McNulty (@AndyMcNulty90) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/ColeMissSports/status/800836109580247040
How did @EvanEngram get robbed of the Mackey award…. total crap.
— Ryne Long (@ryno_longo) November 21, 2016
I do not understand how Evan Engram gets left off the Mackey award list. He's easily the best tight end in the nation.
— Dalton Middleton (@DLMiddleton8) November 21, 2016
Receptions/Yards for the 3 finalists for Mackey Award: Howard: 30-359; Butt: 38-460 yards; Leggett: 31-530. Yet, Evan Engram: 65 for 926 yds
— Evie Van Pelt (@OleMissEvie) November 21, 2016
When you hear Evan Engram is not a finalist for the Mackey Award (Top TE) pic.twitter.com/MOrR97kqtS
— Ole Miss Ink (@OleMissInk) November 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/FauxHughFreeze/status/800831044270309377