July 8, 2015
New York, N.Y. – Vanderbilt senior Steven Scheu has been named as a preseason candidate for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end.
Scheu, a product of Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Ind., is one of 33 tight ends named to the Mackey preseason watch list.
In other individual award news released today, senior Spencer Pulley was among 63 centers across the nation named to the Rimington Trophy fall watch list. He was previously named as a Rimington candidate in May.
Scheu is the first Commodore tight end named as a Mackey Award candidate since Brandon Barden was recognized in 2011.
Scheu caught 39 passes in 2014, earning second team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league’s head coaches. His receptions total was the most by any SEC tight end.
As a 12-game starter, Scheu also set career highs with 525 receiving yards and four touchdown catches last year. His receiving yardage total ranked second among SEC tight ends.
Scheu’s totals for catches and yardage were the most by a Vanderbilt tight end since All-America Chuck Scott starred in the early 1980s.
Scheu ranks as the team’s active career leader with 56 catches, 693 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
The Mackey Award winner, selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee, will be announced Dec. 9, then presented live on Dec. 10 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show to be aired on ESPNU. A Mackey Award midseason watch list will be announced Oct. 12, with semi-finalists recognized on Nov. 16, and finalists on Nov. 24, 2015.
An NFL Hall of Fame member, 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.
Former Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary, currently with the Buffalo Bills, is the reigning Mackey Award winner.
For more information on the award, go to www.johnmackeyaward.com.