Michigan State University Athletics
Josiah Price Named to Mackey Award Watch List
7/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. â€" Michigan State senior Josiah Price, who owns the most touchdown catches (16) by a tight end in school history, has been named to the 2016 watch list for the John Mackey Award, presented to college football's most outstanding tight end since 2000.
A three-year letterwinner, Price has 66 catches for 851 yards (12.9 avg.) and 16 touchdowns in 39 career games, including 15 starts. He ranks first in school history among tight ends with 16 career TD receptions, which also ranks tied for seventh among all players in school history.
Price was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media as a junior in 2015 after leading the Spartan tight ends and ranking fourth on the team with 23 catches for 267 yards (11.6 avg.) in 12 games. He was named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List last season. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Price was also selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 Team in 2015.
Price has been just as active off the field during his career with the Spartans. He received the Gwendolyn Norrell Community Service & Leadership Award at the 2016 MSU Student-Athlete Support Services Academic Gala, which is presented to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the goals of the Putting Athletes and Community Together (PACT) program, excelling in the field of community service and outreach. He also received the MSU Football Players Association Community Service Award at the team's annual banquet. Price serves as one of the football team's representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was selected as SAAC community outreach committee chair for 2015-16. He actively participates in a variety of community service events, including the Ingham County Child Benefit Fund, DARE Graduations, and March is Reading Month.
The award is named in honor of John Mackey (Baltimore Colts, 1963-71; San Diego Chargers, 1972), a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-NFL selection. In 1992, Mackey became only the second tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 10 seasons as a pro, his career totals included 331 receptions for 5,236 yards (15.8 avg.) and 38 TDs. Mackey was named to the NFL's All-Decade (1960s) and 50th Anniversary Teams.
A three-year letterman at Syracuse from 1960-62, Mackey was named to the Orange All-Century Team in 1999 and had his No. 88 jersey retired in 2007. As a collegiate player, he had 27 career catches for 481 yards (17.8 avg.) and nine scores. Mackey was selected in the second round (No. 19 overall) of the 1963 NFL Draft by the Colts.
The 2016 Mackey Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 7 and then presented live on Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. All future announcements can be found at www.johnmackeyaward.com.
