As the Arizona Wildcats approach the midway point of fall camp, another member of Brent Brennan’s squad is garnering preseason honors. Tight end Keyan Burnett has been named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List.
The John Mackey award recognizes the nation’s most outstanding tight end annually. Burnett is one of six Big 12 tight ends on the watch list, and one of 32 tight ends overall. Since the award’s inception in 2000, no Arizona player has won the award.
After parring the list down to eight semifinalists on October 30 and three finalists on November 26, December 12’s College Football Awards show on ESPN will announce the winner.
While Keyan Burnett may have not been in the Old Pueblo during spring camp, he returns to a room that has seen some of the most growth on the field under new tight end coach Josh Miller.
“If you ask anybody on the staff going through the spring – the most improved unit on the offense was the tight ends,” said Arizona offensive coordinator Seth Doege heading into fall camp.
Even with Burnett’s leadership and experience at Arizona, as well as the ascension of the tight end room, Brent Brennan says he is not the automatic Day 1 starter.
“Is he going to be in the mix? Is he going to be at the front of the line? Sure.”
The with the addition to the John Mackey Award Watch List, Keyan Burnett is now the fifth Wildcat to garner preseason award honors. He joins quarterback Noah Fifita on the Maxwell Award Watch List, defensive back Genesis Smith on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, running back Ismail Mahdi on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, and wide receiver Luke Wysong on the Biletnikoff Award watch list.