Texas TE Amari Niblack lands on Mackey Award Watch List
Texas junior tight end Amari Niblack was named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 John Mackey Award, The Friends of John Mackey announced Friday. Given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
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Niblack, a first-year tight end who transferred to Texas from Alabama during spring 2024, played in 24 career games with five starts in two seasons with the Crimson Tide, registering 21 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns. In that span, he helped the team to a College Football Playoff semifinals appearance in 2023 and an Allstate Sugar Bowl Championship in 2022.
As a sophomore last season, he recorded 20 receptions for 327 yards and four scores in 14 games, including four starts. He was selected as one of the team offensive players of the week for his efforts at Mississippi State when he led the squad with three receptions and 61 yards, and against Arkansas, when he hauled in both of his targets for a combined 43 yards with a 29-yard touchdown catch. He also pulled in two passes for 45 yards with a 39-yard touchdown against the Longhorns.
During his freshman campaign in 2022, Niblack played in 10 games with one start, totaling one reception for 15 yards and a touchdown. He entered on offense for his first collegiate action against Utah State before catching one pass for a 15-yard touchdown against ULM. He went on to make his first career start against Tennessee.
Eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Three finalists will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 26 followed by the 2024 winner being revealed on Thursday, Dec. 12, as part of The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
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Niblack and the Longhorns start the season at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 31, at home against Colorado State. The game will air on ESPN from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
(via Texas release)
