Dec. 1, 2006
Notre Dame senior John Carlson is one of three finalists for the 2006 John Mackey Award announced today by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey.
Carlson exploded onto the scene in 2006 becoming Notre Dame¹s third-leading receiver in terms of yardage and worked his way into the Fighting Irish record books. The 6-6, 256-pound student-athlete from Litchfield, Minn. caught 46 passes for 621 yards and four touchdowns before injuring his knee in the third offensive series at Air Force. He missed the rest of the game against the Falcons as well as the final two regular-season contests but is scheduled to return for Notre Dame¹s bowl game. Carlson recorded the second-most receiving yards in a single season by a Notre Dame tight end and ranks third on the school list for most receptions by a tight end in a season. He ranks second in the NCAA Division I in receptions per game by a tight end and sits third for most receiving yards per game by a tight end this year. Carlson was also named to the ESPN the Magazine First-Team Academic All-America squad.
The 2006 recipient of the John Mackey Award will be announced on Dec. 7 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN and presented at the Nassau County Sports Commission Annual Awards Dinner on April 30, 2007. The three finalists determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Selection Committee are:
John Carlson, Notre Dame (46 rec., 621 yards, 4 TDs)
Zach Miller, Arizona State (41 rec., 420 yards, 3 TDs)
Matt Spaeth, Minnesota (47 rec., 564 yards, 4 TDs)