Manhasset, N.Y. --- ULM junior tight end Zeek Zacharie was named to the 2007 John Mackey Award watch list on Monday by the Nassau County Sports Commission, along with 30 other candidates nationwide. On Monday, Zacharie was also named to the 2007 preseason all-Sun Belt Conference team.
Zacharie was recognized in 2006 with the John Mackey Tight End of the Week award for his two-touchdown performance against Kansas.
Given annually to the best collegiate tight end, the award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and announced in mid-December.
NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.
The John Mackey Award presented since 2000, lists six NFL players as alumni: Dallas Clark ('01) of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, two-time Super Bowl Champion Daniel Graham ('02) of the Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow, Jr. ('03) of the Cleveland Browns, Heath Miller ('04) of the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Marcedes Lewis ('05) of the Jacksonville Jaguars and 2006 John Mackey Award recipient Matt Spaeth of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2007 John Mackey Award Watch List
PLAYER YR SCHOOL
Gary Barnidge SR Louisville
Travis Beckum JR Wisconsin
Martellus Bennett JR Texas A&M
Chris Brown SR Tennessee
Eric Butler SR Miss St
John Carlson SR Notre Dame
Chase Coffman JR Missouri
Jeff Cumberland SR Illinois
Fred Davis SR USC
Brody Eldridge SO Oklahoma
DajLeon Farr JR Miami, FL
Jermichael Finley SO Texas
Joey Haynos SR Maryland
Anthony Hill SR NC State
Darius Hill JR Ball St
Chris Hopkins SR Toledo
Dustin Keller SR Purdue
Branden Ledbetter JR W Michigan
Tony Moeaki JR Iowa
Shawn Nelson JR S Mississippi
Bear Pascoe JR Fresno St
Logan Paulsen JR UCLA
Brandon Pettigrew JR Oklahoma St
Andrew Quarless SO Penn St
Martin Rucker SR Missouri
Tom Santi SR Virginia
Cody Slate SO Marshall
Kory Sperry SR Colorado St
Craig Stevens SR California
Jacob Tamme SR Kentucky
Zeek Zacharie JR ULM
The Nassau County Sports Commission, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization created to enhance the quality of life through sports is responsible for the administration of the John Mackey Award and the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
