Gator Tight End Aaron Hernandez Named a Semifinalist for John Mackey Award
Monday, November 16, 2009 | Football
The Nassau County Sports Commission has announced Florida junior tight end Aaron Hernandez (Bristol, Conn.) as one of eight semi-finalists for the 2009 John Mackey Award. The other seven semi-finalists, listed alphabetically, are Dorin Dickerson (SR, Pittsburgh), Ed Dickson (SR, Oregon), Anthony McCoy (SR, USC), Tony Moeaki (SR, Iowa), Dennis Pitta (SR, BYU), Kyle Rudolph (SO, Notre Dame) and Cody Slate (SR, Marshall).
Hernandez has been instrumental in the Gators' success in 2009 and ranks first on the team in receptions (46), and second in receiving yards (571) and average yards per game (57.1). One of the best in the Southeastern Conference, Hernandez ranks first among tight ends in the SEC in re?ceiving yards (571), average yards per game (57.1), receptions (46) and ranks fourth in average yards per catch (12.4).
Hernandez had a career-best outing in UF's 23-20 Homecoming win over Arkansas, where he caught seven catches for a then career-high 92 years through the air. His seven receptions against the Razorbacks were the third-most in a single game in UF his?tory, tying Gators Jim Yancey, Mike Mularkey and Kirk Kirkpatrick. Hernandez returned in UF's home game against Vanderbilt, tying his career-high seven receptions and racked up a new career high 120 yards receiving, including a career-long 64-yard grab from Tim Tebow in the fourth quarter that marked the second-longest catch by a tight end in the nation this year. With seven catches in two contests in 2009, Hernandez joined Kirkpatrick as the only tight end in school history to have two games with seven-plus catches in a career.
The eight semi-finalists were determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Selection Committee. The 2009 John Mackey Award finalists will be announced on Monday, November 23, 2009, at www.johnmackeyaward.org. The website also features all Mackey Award related information including the John Mackey Selection Committee, the selection process and award criteria, information on all past award recipients and a high resolution image of the award trophy available for download.
The Nassau County Sports Commission, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization created to enhance quality of life of Nassau County residents through sports, is responsible for the administration of the John Mackey Award and the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The 2009 recipient of "The Mackey" will be announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show live December 10, 2009, on ESPN and presented at the Nassau County Sports Commission “Salute to Champions” Awards Dinner. For additional information, please visit www.johnmackeyaward.org or www.nassausports.org.
The John Mackey Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official website, www.ncfaa.org.
