Caden Prieskorn was fabulous in the final stretch of the 2023 season, including a key game in the Peach Bowl. With Ole Miss looking to strengthen many position groups, Dae’Quan Wright was brought out of the transfer portal. Both are expected to have good seasons alongside the team’s strong pass catchers.

The John Mackey Award is given annually to the best tight end in college football. Former Georgia player Brock Bowers has won it the last two seasons in a row. Prieskorn and Wright will be looking for top-notch performances that could give them a chance at the award.

Prieskorn and Wright were added to the preseason award watchlist alongside 46 other tight ends in the FBS. Ole Miss was one of three teams with multiple tight ends on the list, along with Georgia (Oscar Delp & Benjamin Yurosek) and North Carolina (John Copenhaver & Bryson Nesbit).

During the season, tight ends have the opportunity to win weekly awards for their performance in games. If they are not on the watch list, winning one will put them on it. Players can also be removed and added at certain points in the season based on their performance.

Finalists for the award will be announced on November 26, and the winner will be presented with the trophy on December 12. No, the Ole Miss tight end has won the award before, and both players have an excellent chance to change that.

This week, Jaxson Dart, Walter Nolen, Ulysses Bentley IV and Tre Harris were on the preseason watch lists. Harris, who is a Biletnikoff Award watch list nominee, may have the best chance to win an individual trophy this season.

Very few Rebels players have won NCFAA awards. Eli Manning won the Maxwell Award in 2003 and Patrick Willis won the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker, in 2006.