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Boise State Athletics
Bates Named To Mackey Award Watch List
7/20/2018 8:00:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho -Â The opening week of 2018 #WatchListSZN concluded Friday morning as Boise State redshirt sophomore tight end John Bates was named a preseason candidate for the John Mackey Award, given annually to college football's top tight end.
Bates' inclusion on the award's watch list marks the third-straight season that a Bronco has been recognized, as former tight end and three-time All-Mountain West selection Jake Roh was a preseason candidate each of the past two seasons (2016-17).
Bates made his collegiate debut last season, appearing in all 14 games and making two starts. He was a key factor in providing blocking for Boise State's rushing attack, with featured 2018 Doak Walker Award candidate Alexander Mattison posting the ninth-straight 1,000-yard season by a Bronco back, and emerged as a receiving threat late in the season, catching three passes for 34 yards including a 17-yard reception against Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship Game.
The Lebanon, Ore., native is the fourth Bronco to be named to a preseason watch list this offseason, joining quarterback Brett Rypien (Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award), cornerback Tyler Horton (Bednarik Award), and Mattison (Doak Walker Award).
Boise State opens the 2018 regular season Sept. 1 at Troy. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. MT and be televised on ESPNews.
Boise State Players On 2018 Preseason Watch Lists
TE John Bates
John Mackey Award
CB Tyler Horton
Bednarik Award
RB Alexander Mattison
Doak Walker Award
QB Brett Rypien
Maxwell Award
Davey O'Brien Award
Bates' inclusion on the award's watch list marks the third-straight season that a Bronco has been recognized, as former tight end and three-time All-Mountain West selection Jake Roh was a preseason candidate each of the past two seasons (2016-17).
Bates made his collegiate debut last season, appearing in all 14 games and making two starts. He was a key factor in providing blocking for Boise State's rushing attack, with featured 2018 Doak Walker Award candidate Alexander Mattison posting the ninth-straight 1,000-yard season by a Bronco back, and emerged as a receiving threat late in the season, catching three passes for 34 yards including a 17-yard reception against Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship Game.
The Lebanon, Ore., native is the fourth Bronco to be named to a preseason watch list this offseason, joining quarterback Brett Rypien (Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award), cornerback Tyler Horton (Bednarik Award), and Mattison (Doak Walker Award).
Boise State opens the 2018 regular season Sept. 1 at Troy. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. MT and be televised on ESPNews.
Boise State Players On 2018 Preseason Watch Lists
TE John Bates
John Mackey Award
CB Tyler Horton
Bednarik Award
RB Alexander Mattison
Doak Walker Award
QB Brett Rypien
Maxwell Award
Davey O'Brien Award
Players Mentioned
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CB
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RB
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TE
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QB
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Saturday, April 25
Tuesday, April 14
