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South Alabama senior tight end Wes Saxton of Hueytown was among the 40 players named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list on Tuesday. Saxton had 50 catches for 635 yards last season. (Photo courtesy of South Alabama)

MOBILE, Alabama -- South Alabama senior tight end Wes Saxton is among the 40 players named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list announced Tuesday.

The Mackey Award is presented to the nation's top tight end.

Saxton joins three other players from schools in the state of Alabama named to the list -- UAB's Kennard Backman, Alabama's O.J. Howard and Auburn's C.J. Uzomah. One other player from the Sun Belt Conference joins Saxton on the list as well -- Arkansas State's Darion Griswold.

The winner of the award is selected by vote of the Mackey Award selection committee and this year's winner will be announced on Dec. 10, with the award officially presented Dec. 11 on The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU.



The midseason watch List will be announced Oct. 13, with the semifinalists announced on Nov. 17 and the finalists announcement made Nov. 24.



Saxton, a Hueytown native, was named a first-team All-Sun Belt selection last season and he has been named a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt pick for the upcoming season by Phil Steele and Athlon. He is expected to be the preseason first-team All-Sun Belt pick of the league's coaches when that team is announced at Sun Belt Media Day on July 22 in New Orleans.

Last season, Saxton, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder who played one season at Itawamba, Miss., Community College, caught 50 passes last season for 635 yards, but no touchdowns. The 50 catches tied for best on the Jaguars' team along with wide receiver Shavarez Smith.

Saxton was among the top five in the nation last year in receptions and receiving yards. Both were career highs.

Saxton and his South Alabama teammates open the 2014 season on Sat., Sept. 6 at Kent State.