Two Penn State tight ends dot Mackey Award watch list
The list of Penn State players among the nation’s watch list candidates ahead of the 2022 season continues to grow. Announced Friday, tight ends Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson were included on the John Mackey Award watch list, presented annually to the best tight end in college football.
The award is chosen and presented by the Mackey Foundation. There are 54 candidates announced nationally as part of the preseason watch list.
Colorado State’s Trey McBride was the winner of the 2021 award.
Next steps for Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson
To finish as the winner of this year’s award, both Strange and Johnson would need to produce at a rate higher than in 2021. Looking to pick up in the absence of Pat Freiermuth from the 2020 season, Penn State’s tight ends enjoyed modest results.
Now in the second year of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, with a full season of action under the belts of all three contributors in the room, Strange is expecting more from the entirety of the tight ends room.
“I see a lot bigger role,” Strange said. “We sort of had to, I wouldn’t say grow up, but there were probably some growing pains for us last year. But we have a bigger role this year. And I think it will increase a lot.”
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Last year, Strange was the best of the bunch in hauling in 20 catches for 225 yards and three scores. It was an increase on his 17 catches for 164 yards and two scores as a redshirt freshman in 2020, but were a per-game dip in production, comparatively speaking.
Johnson, meanwhile, finished with 19 catches for 213 yards and a score. Redshirt freshman Tyler Warren made five catches for 61 yards and a score in his first game experiences as a Nittany Lion.
Now, coming off those experiences, Strange says that the tight ends – as well as the rest of the offense – are determined to take big strides.
“We’re motivated. Of course, we’re motivated,” Strange said. “We want to be the best team in the country. That’s our goal every day when we come in and go to work. But we’re not dwelling on last year. We know what we got to do. We know where we went wrong.”
Penn State preseason award watch lists (updating)
Sean Clifford – Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award
Keyvone Lee – Doak Walker Award
Chris Stoll – AFCA Good Works Team
Parker Washington – Biletnikoff Award
Mitchell Tinsley – Biletnikoff Award
Juice Scruggs – Rimington Trophy
Brenton Strange – Mackey Award
Theo Johnson – Mackey Award
