When naming the best tight ends in college football, one cannot forget about Farmer Gronk.
On Friday, the Ohio State fifth-year senior was named to a preseason watch list for the Mackey Award, an honor presented to the best tight end in college football. Stover was named with last year's winner Brock Bowers of Georgia and almost 30 other candidates.
Cade Stover John Mackey Award Watch List pic.twitter.com/EXRc5QTTYi
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 4, 2023
Stover was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award in 2022 after a breakout season for the Buckeyes. He recorded 36 catches for 406 yards and six touchdowns – the most productive season for an Ohio State tight end in 28 years, dating back to when Rick Dudley collected 35 receptions for 575 yards in 1995.
Because of his success, Stover secured third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022. The Mansfield, Ohio, native also emerged as an NFL prospect and is expected to be among the top players taken at his position in 2024 behind Bowers, who is widely regarded as the top tight end prospect in this year's class.
With several more watch lists still set to be announced by the National College Football Awards Association, the Buckeyes have had nine players named to preseason watch lists after Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka were named to the Maxwell Award watch list, Donovan Jackson, Matt Jones and Mike Hall Jr. were named to the Outland Trophy watch list, JT Tuimoloau, Tommy Eichenberg and Lathan Ransom were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, Jesse Mirco was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list and Egbuka was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list.
Ohio State Players on Preseason Watch Lists
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: Maxwell Award
- WR Emeka Egbuka: Maxwell Award, Paul Hornung Award
- G Donovan Jackson: Outland Trophy
- G Matt Jones: Outland Trophy
- DT Mike Hall Jr.: Outland Trophy
- DE JT Tuimoloau: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy
- LB Tommy Eichenberg: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy
- S Lathan Ransom: Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- P Jesse Mirco: Ray Guy Award
- TE Cade Stover: Mackey Award
