NEW YORK, N.Y.----- In the midst of his most productive season for San Jose State University, Derrick Deese, Jr., is one of eight semifinalists for the 2021John Mackey National Tight End Award.
Named after the Baltimore Colts great and Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, the annual award since 2000 honors college football's best tight end.
Deese, Jr., is having his best season with the Spartans this year. After nine games, he leads the team in pass receiving with 36 catches, receiving yards at 634 and in touchdown receptions with three.
In the last five games, all in October, Deese, Jr., has 28 of his 36 receptions, two of his three touchdown plays, and his three 100-yard receiving games of his college career. His 17.6 yards per catch average is tops on the San Jose State team and second best among the eight semifinalists. His three 100-yard receiving games also is the second most among the semifinalists.
The recognition for Deese, Jr., marks the second consecutive year he was named a John Mackey National Tight End of the Year semifinalist.
Deese, Jr., is joined by Isaiah Likely of Coastal Carolina, Texas A&M's Jalen Wydermyer, Colorado State's Trey McBride, Charlie Kolar of Iowa State, Brock Bowers of Georgia, Notre Dame's Michael Mayer, and Greg Dulcich of UCLA as semifinalists for the award.
Later in the month, three finalists will be named and the winner will be announced during the 2021 Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 9 televised by ESPN.