Butt One of Three Finalists for John Mackey Award
11/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 21, 2016
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- University of Michigan senior tight end Jake Butt has been named one of three finalists for the 2016 John Mackey Award, presented annually to the top collegiate tight end by the Friends of John Mackey.
Butt is the only Big Ten Conference representative on the list and is the program's first finalist in the 17 seasons this award has been granted (since 2000). He is joined by Alabama's O.J. Howard and Clemson's Jordan Leggett as this year's finalists.
The senior captain from Pickerington, Ohio, has led the Wolverines both on and off the field this season. He is also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award which encompasses achievement in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Butt is second on the team with 38 receptions for 460 yards (12.4 avg.) and four touchdowns this season. He has hauled in at least one reception in 10 games, with 26 of his 38 catches netting first downs, including seven receptions that converted third downs. Butt has collected three or more receptions in eight contests and had a season-best seven catches on two occasions. He has worked hard to become a complete tight end, devoting a great deal of time to becoming an effective run blocker and pass protector.
He has helped lead one of the nation's most balanced offensive attacks. The Wolverines are averaging 235.3 rushing yards and 215.8 passing yards per contest. U-M has run 791 offensive plays for 4,962 yards (451.1 per game) and scored 56 touchdowns. The offense trails only the famed "Point-a-Minute" teams of the early 1900s for the most points in school history.
A semifinalist for the 2015 Mackey Award, Butt earned first team All-America honors and was the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year last season, when he caught 51 passes for 654 yards and three touchdowns.
Butt is Michigan's career leader among tight ends in receptions (130) and receiving yards (1,560) while listing second with 11 career receiving touchdowns. He caught a pass in 26 straight games, a record all-time among U-M tight ends, and has collected catches in 26 of the past 27 games. Butt is looking to post his second straight 50-catch, 500-yard receiving season.
The winner of the 2016 John Mackey Award will be announced Dec. 7. The award will be presented to the recipient during the ESPNU Red Carpet Show prior to the Home Depot College Football Awards Show from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta on Dec. 8.
Communications Contact: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard
