Alabama tight end Miller Forristall has been named to a preseason watch list.

The Crimson Tide redshirt junior was one of 60 tight ends on the John Mackey Award’s 2019 watch list, it was announced Friday. The Mackey Award is annually presented to college football’s top tight end.

Forristall saw his 2017 season cut short by an ACL injury in the Colorado State game, and after redshirting that year, he served as a reserve a season ago behind starters Hale Hentges and Irv Smith Jr. Forristall did not record a reception in his 15 games played during the 2018 campaign, but he did return a pair of kickoffs for five total yards. Still, his third year wasn’t what the tight end envisioned.

That will change in 2019, however. With Hentges exhausting his eligibility and Smith electing to turn pro, Forristall will be the No. 1 option at tight end for the Tide -- a position that lacks some experienced depth. Given the historic season that Smith produced for a tight end at Alabama, it is no wonder Forristall is excited about his redshirt junior campaign with Tua Tagovailoa still at quarterback.

“Growing up here and being with Irv and Hale, maturing here and seeing the success they had, that’s fantastic,” Forristall said in the spring. “... I couldn’t be pumped or more excited for two guys who just worked their butts off. It works the same way with us and recruits. Recruits, say, ‘Man, I see this guy catching the ball. I want to go there.’ Or we see it and say, ‘Hey, that could be me. I get to catch a couple of balls.’ So, it’s super exciting.”

An Alabama tight end has never won the Mackey Award since its establishment in 2000. The 2019 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

Alabama players on preseason watch lists:

Maxwell Award -- Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy Tua Tagovailoa

Chuck Bednarik Award -- Raekwon Davis, Dylan Moses

Davey O’Brien Award -- Tua Tagovailoa

Doak Walker Award -- Najee Harris

Biletnikoff Award -- Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle

John Mackey Award -- Miller Forristall

Rimington Trophy -- N/A

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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