Leggett named to 2015 John Mackey Fall Watch List – Jordan Leggett Clemson

The preseason watch list for the 2015 John Mackey Award was released Wednesday morning, with USC’s Jerell Adams and Clemson’s Jordan Leggett making the grade. The award goes to the top tight end in college football.

Leggett had 14 receptions for 161 yards in 11 games in 2014. In the Mountain West, San José State’s Billy Freeman, Nevada’s Jarred Gipson and UNLV’s Jake Phillips were additionally recognized. Kivon Cartwright, like Freeman, makes his second straight Mackey watch list appearance, though he missed almost all of previous year due to injury.

He had 45-catches in 2014, which was the most-ever by a Hokies’ freshman tight end, and he also had six touchdowns.

He had a promising freshman year in 2013 – 27 catches, 427 yards, two touchdowns – and that placed him on this watch list that year. “The senior caught just five passes past year, but will replace Taylor Barnhill as the starter for the rebuilding Rebels and, at 6’6” and 255 pounds, could be a desperately needed security blanket for whomever emerges from Vegas’ murky quarterback quandry.

Virginia Tech (Bucky Hodges and Ryan Malleck) joins CSU as the only two schools to have two players listed. He enters his final season with 57 career receptions for 857 yards and nine touchdowns.

Other key dates include the announcement of the 2015 Mackey Midseason Watch List on October 12, the 2015 Mackey semifinalists on November 16 and the 2015 Mackey finalists on November 24.