Brock Bowers brings home John Mackey Award as nation's top tight end
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers took home the 2022 John Mackey Award on Thursday night as the nation’s top player at his position. Bowers beat out fellow finalists Michael Mayer of Notre Dame and Sam LaPorta of Iowa. Presented annually since 2000, Bowers is the first Bulldog to win the award after many felt he was snubbed last year of at least being a finalist and potentially even winning it as a true freshman.
On the season the Napa, Calif native has 52 catches for 726 yards and six touchdowns, all totals that lead No. 1 Georgia. He also added 93 yards and three touchdowns on six carries rushing. Twice this season was Bowers named SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performances against South Carolina and Florida. He put up three touchdowns on the day in a road win over the Gamecocks with five catches for 121 yards and two scorers plus a 5-yard rushing score. Then, in a rivalry win down in Jacksonville, Bowers once again had an impressive outing with five catches for 154 yards including a 73-yard touchdown where Bowers bobbled the ball after it bounced off of the Florida defender. Another big outing of his came in a two-rushing touchdown day against Kent State that included Georgia’s longest gain on the ground this year of 75 yards.
Along with being a finalist for the Mackey, Bowers was up for the Rotary Lombardi Award which is given to the top player on the line of scrimmage in the country as well as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff as the nation’s top receiver. He was the only tight end up for the honor, a testament to the kind of skillset that the sophomore has.
“What a weapon he is,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in speaking about Bowers earlier this season. “What a tough character he is. He makes you defend the whole 53, right? When he comes into motion, the expectation is, ‘I’ve gotta stop the sideline.’ It loosens them up inside for some softer runs, too. When you run for 250, you’re doing something right … I don’t know that there is (a more versatile player in the country) because I don’t get to see it. I don’t think I’ve seen many games this year but it’s hard for me to do comparisons. But for what he does … I don’t think people understand what an incredible blocker he is. He doesn’t get to do that, that much.”
Bowers and the Bulldogs take on Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31st. It’s a second straight appearance in the final four for Kirby Smart and company. Georgia, who comes in at 13-0 for the first time in program history, opened as a touchdown-favorite over Ryan Day’s Buckeyes.
