Shaq Williams

was one of 55 players named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list, the John Mackey Award selection committee announced on Tuesday. The award annually recognizes the nation's top tight end.Williams, who redshirted the 2015 campaign, is coming off a junior season that saw him play in all 13 games, including three starts (at Old Dominion/vs. North Texas/vs. Charlotte). The Jackson, Miss., native caught 13 passes for 158 yards (12.2 avg.) and two touchdowns. He opened the year with a season-high three receptions for 63 yards, including a 51-yarder, against Alabama State (Sept. 3) and hauled in a pair of throws for 37 yards, including a 24-yard score, against Arizona State (Sept. 16). His other TD grab was a 3-yarder against UTEP (Oct. 22).Eight semifinalists will be unveiled in mid-November and three finalists will be picked a week later. This year's winner will be announced in December and then will be presented the award live in Atlanta, Ga., at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show.National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFL Players Association.Presented since 2000, previous winners include Tim Stratton (Purdue 2000), Daniel Graham (Colorado 2001), Dallas Clark (Iowa 2002), Kellen Winslow II (Miami [Fla.] 2003), Heath Miller (Virginia 2004), Marcedes Lewis (UCLA 2005), Matt Spaeth (Minnesota 2006), Fred Davis (USC 2007), Chase Coffman (Missouri 2008), Aaron Hernandez (Florida 2009), D.J. Williams (Arkansas 2010), Dwayne Allen (Clemson 2011), Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame 2012), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington 2013), Nick O'Leary (Florida State 2014), Hunter Henry (Arkansas 2015) and Jake Butt (Michigan 2016).Jordan Akins, UCFJulian Allen, Southern MissMark Andrews, OklahomaMarcus Baugh, Ohio StateAlec Bloom, ConnecticutAdam Breneman, MassachusettsTyler Conklin, Central MichiganC.J. Conrad, KentuckyCole Cook, North Carolina StateMicky Crum, LouisvilleJordan Davis, LouisvilleDonnie Ernsberger, Western MichiganJordan Feuerbacher, BaylorMaaseiah Francis, South AlabamaBrandon Fritts, North CarolinaTroy Fumagalli, WisconsinMike Gesicki, Penn StateDe'Andre Goolsby, FloridaDaniel Helm, DukeHale Hentges, AlabamaChris Herndon, Miami (Fla.)Ray Hudson, CaliforniaHayden Hurst, South CarolinaDaniel Imatorbhebhe, USCRyan Izzo, Florida StateBen Johnson KansasCharles Jones, TulaneBrandon Lingen, MinnesotaAlize Mack, Notre DameBlake Mack, Arkansas StateTroy Mangen, OhioIsaac Nauta, GeorgiaKyle Penniston, WisconsinDax Raymond, Utah StateAustin Roberts, UCLAJake Roh, Boise StateDrew Sample, WashingtonGabe Schrade, Texas StateDalton Schultz, StanfordCam Serigne, Wake Forest, Miami (Ohio)Durham Smythe, Notre DameTommy Sweeney, Boston CollegeMetuisela Unga, Hawai`iDayton Valentine, Kansas StateMelvin Vaughn, Old DominionDavid Wells, San Diego StateAri Werts, Georgia StateTyrone Wheatley, MichiganMitchell Wilcox, USFShane Wimann, Northern IllinoisEthan Wolf, TennesseeNate Wozniak, MinnesotaRyan Yurachek, Marshall