NEW YORK, N.Y. ----- For the second time in October, San Jose State University's Derrick Deese, Jr., was one of the tight ends cited by the John Mackey Award in its weekly awards program.
Deese, Jr., had six receptions for 106 yards in the Spartans' 27-20 comeback win at UNLV on Thursday, October 21. The 106 receiving yards marked the third time in the last four weeks he has gained at least 100 receiving yards.
The Spartan graduate student leads the team with 31 receptions for 553 yards and three touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per catch average ranks in the top five by Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) tight ends heading into this weekend's action.
The John Mackey Award named Jalen Wydermyer of Texas A&M its national tight end of the week for catching four passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the Aggies' win over South Carolina. Deese, Jr., and SMU's Grant Calcaterra were the two honorable mention selections for games ending the week of October 23.
In late November, eight semifinalists will be announced and three finalists will be named near the end of the month. Deese, Jr., was one of the eight 2020 John Mackey Award national semifinalists.
The 2021 John Mackey Award winner will be presented Thursday, December 9, at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
San Jose State returns to action, Saturday, October 30, hosting Wyoming in a 1:00 p.m. (PT) Mountain West contest in CEFCU Stadium.