Penn State TE Theo Johnson a Mackey Award watch lister
Penn State tight end Theo Johnson finished the 2022 season as a Mackey Award finalist. The honor, recognizing the nation’s top tight end in college football, ultimately went to Georgia’s Brock Bowers.
This year, Johnson is again among the contenders.
Announced Friday afternoon, the Mackey Award included Johnson as one of its 48 players to watch ahead of the season. The selection is Johnson’s first award recognition of the preseason.
Penn State resume
As a junior last season, Johnson finished fifth on the team in receptions and second among all tight ends. He notched 20 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns. And, his performances against Minnesota and Michigan State, both at Beaver Stadium, were season highlights.
Expected to step into the vacancy created by Brenton Strange, Johnson hit snags this offseason. He missed all of spring practice and was charged with a misdemeanor for an off-field altercation. However, according to Penn State head coach James Franklin and the rest of the Nittany Lion program, his trajectory remains on track.
Rather, Johnson’s presence in the locker room this offseason has been an undeniable positive.
“Having him back as a player, they’re a ton of value in that. When you talk about leadership, it’s very obvious to us right now, as a staff and the players, that it’s really important for Theo to have a significant leadership role this year,” Franklin said this summer. “You can see him trying to take on that role and being more vocal compared to how he’s been in the past and how his teammates are receiving that information, the impact he’s having on others. So all those things have been great and valuable, and we’re happy to have him back.”
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Next steps for Theo Johnson
On the field, Johnson is again expected to have a massive impact for the Nittany Lions this season. With questions to answer at receiver, Johnson’s contributions with fellow tight end Tyler Warren are viewed as crucial ingredients to the success of Penn State’s offense.
And, according to tight ends coach Ty Howe, that manifests itself in one particular way for Johnson.
“I think one of Theo’s superpowers is how well he runs,” Howle told BWI this summer. “I mean, he can really run, stretch the field vertically.”
With preseason camp now under way, the program set to participate in its third practice of the month on Friday, that opportunity will soon arrive for Johnson.
