1 hr. ago
The John Mackey Award has been around since 2000 and is handed out by the Nassau County Sports Commission annually to college football's most outstanding tight end. With a bunch of preseason college football award watch lists being unveiled recently, the Mackey Award got in on all of the fun, with an Ohio State tight end landing on the preseason watch list.
To be frank, Ohio State has not been known for tight ends during its illustrious history, but this year, many believe Northwestern transfer Hunter Welcing could be a good one. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season and will be entering his Redshirt Senior campaign after transferring to Ohio State.
Last year, Welcing tallied 28 catches for 296 yards (10.6 avg.) and two touchdowns to lead the tight end position in Evanston. Nate Roberts is projected by many to be the starting tight end for OSU, but the experience of Welcing could win out, especially with the loss of Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, who are now both in the NFL. And don't worry, Buckeye fans, if Roberts does grab the starting nod and receive a bigger volume of time, he could be added to the watch list later in the season.
In the meantime, though, there's no doubt Welcing will be in the rotation with his size, experience, and ability.
Ohio State has never had a John Mackey Award recipient, since it is arguably the best at producing elite wide receivers in the entire country, but it would be nice to get the recognition when the John Mackey Award is announced on December 11 during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
#state #welcing #john #college
To be frank, Ohio State has not been known for tight ends during its illustrious history, but this year, many believe Northwestern transfer Hunter Welcing could be a good one. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season and will be entering his Redshirt Senior campaign after transferring to Ohio State.
Last year, Welcing tallied 28 catches for 296 yards (10.6 avg.) and two touchdowns to lead the tight end position in Evanston. Nate Roberts is projected by many to be the starting tight end for OSU, but the experience of Welcing could win out, especially with the loss of Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, who are now both in the NFL. And don't worry, Buckeye fans, if Roberts does grab the starting nod and receive a bigger volume of time, he could be added to the watch list later in the season.
In the meantime, though, there's no doubt Welcing will be in the rotation with his size, experience, and ability.
Ohio State has never had a John Mackey Award recipient, since it is arguably the best at producing elite wide receivers in the entire country, but it would be nice to get the recognition when the John Mackey Award is announced on December 11 during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
#state #welcing #john #college
12 days ago
Ohio State's tight end room looks completely different entering 2026, but that doesn't mean the position is any weaker. In fact, there is a strong argument that it is deeper than it has been in years.
Gone are Max Klare, Will Kacmarek, and Jelani Thurman. Together, they accounted for virtually every meaningful snap at tight end over the last two seasons. Replacing that experience was never going to come from one player.
Instead, Ryan Day attacked the position by **** embling a room where every player has a defined role, and together, they may give the Buckeyes more flexibility than they've had in a long time.
The hierarchy entering fall camp appears fairly straightforward. Nate Roberts projects as the clear TE1. Mason Williams looks like the favorite for TE2. Behind them, Hunter Welcing and Bennett Christian are battling for rotational snaps, while Maxence LeBlanc and Brody Lennon continue developing as future contributors.
The names may not yet carry the same national recognition as previous Ohio State tight end rooms, but the fit of each player within Arthur Smith and Ryan Day's offense makes this group one of the more fascinating position battles on the roster.
#position
Gone are Max Klare, Will Kacmarek, and Jelani Thurman. Together, they accounted for virtually every meaningful snap at tight end over the last two seasons. Replacing that experience was never going to come from one player.
Instead, Ryan Day attacked the position by **** embling a room where every player has a defined role, and together, they may give the Buckeyes more flexibility than they've had in a long time.
The hierarchy entering fall camp appears fairly straightforward. Nate Roberts projects as the clear TE1. Mason Williams looks like the favorite for TE2. Behind them, Hunter Welcing and Bennett Christian are battling for rotational snaps, while Maxence LeBlanc and Brody Lennon continue developing as future contributors.
The names may not yet carry the same national recognition as previous Ohio State tight end rooms, but the fit of each player within Arthur Smith and Ryan Day's offense makes this group one of the more fascinating position battles on the roster.
#position
