Ole Miss one of three schools to have two tight ends make the Mackey Award watch list

Caden Prieskorn was fabulous down the back stretch of the 2023 season, including a massive game in the Peach Bowl. With Ole Miss looking to strengthen many position groups, Dae'Quan Wright was picked up from the transfer portal. Both are expected to have good seasons alongside the potent pass catchers on the team.

The John Mackey Award is presented annually to the best tight end in college football. Former Georgia player Brock Bowers won it back-to-back the last two seasons. Prieskorn and Wright will be looking for high-quality performances, which could give them a chance to scoop the award.

Prieskorn and Wright were added to the preseason award watchlist, alongside 46 other tight ends in the FBS. Ole Miss was one of three teams to have multiple tight ends make the list, with Georgia (Oscar Delp & Benjamin Yurosek) and North Carolina (John Copenhaver & Bryson Nesbit.)

During the season, tight ends will have the opportunity to win weekly awards for their performances in games. If they are not on the watch list, winning one will put them on it. Players can also be removed and added during points of the season depending on their showing.

The finalists for the award will be revealed on November 26, and the winner will be presented with the trophy on December 12. No, Ole Miss tight end has won the award before, and both players have an excellent chance to change that.

This week, Jaxson Dart, Walter Nolen, Ulysses Bentley IV, and Tre Harris made preseason watch lists. Harris, nominated for the Biletnikoff Award watch list, may have the most significant chance of lifting an individual trophy this season.

The Rebels have seen very few of their players scoop NCFAA awards. Eli Manning won the Maxwell Award in 2003, with Patrick Willis winning the Butkus Award in 2006, which was awarded to the best linebacker in the country.