NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers has been named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award.
The Mackey Award is presented annually to the nation’s top tight end. Stowers is joined on the list by Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green), Tyler Warren (Penn State), Colston Loveland (Michigan), Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame), Mason Taylor (LSU), Tanner Koziol (Ball State) and Gunnar Helm (Texas).
Stowers leads the SEC and is third among Power 4 tight ends with 516 receiving yards this season, his first full-time year as a tight end. He is the first Vandy tight end since at least 1996 to have multiple 100-yard receiving games in a season after eclipsing 100 yards in three contests (Ball State, Alabama and Georgia State) and is just the sixth tight end since 1996 to post at least 100 receiving yards against Alabama. Stowers was named the Mackey Award Tight End of the Week for his performance against the Tide.
The Denton, Texas, native is in his first season at Vanderbilt. He began his career as a four-star quarterback at Texas A&M before transferring to New Mexico State. After teammate Diego Pavia earned the starting nod for the Aggies last year, Stowers began playing tight end during the 2023 season, but remained in the quarterback room. This season in Nashville marks his first full season working with the tight end group.
Stowers and the Commodores return to action Saturday, hosting South Carolina at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
