Andrews picks up Mackey Award
ATLANTA — Mark Andrews won’t have any butterflies at the Home Depot College Football Awards.
And why should he? The junior found out three days before the Big 12 Championship that he was the winner of the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.
He had to keep the secret for a couple days, but Wednesday, the honor was officially announced while he was en route to the Atlanta awards show with quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive tackle Orlando Brown.
“This was an award, when I made the move to tight end, it was something I’ve always wanted to win,” Andrews said. “It was kind of that realization that I actually won it. It was an incredible feeling. I can’t express how honored I am just to be mentioned with this award.”
Though the award was announced Wednesday, it will still be recognized at the show's Red Carpet Special (5 p.m., ESPNU).
Andrews, who has 58 catches for 906 yards and eight touchdowns this year, is the first Sooner to win the Mackey Award, and it vaults him into a conversation with the other elite Sooner tight ends.
With 1,713 yards, Andrews is OU’s all-time leader for receiving yards
express how honored I am just to be mentioned with this award.”
Though the award was announced Wednesday, it will still be recognized at the show's Red Carpet Special (5 p.m., ESPNU).
Andrews, who has 58 catches for 906 yards and eight touchdowns this year, is the first Sooner to win the Mackey Award, and it vaults him into a conversation with the other elite Sooner tight ends.
With 1,713 yards, Andrews is OU’s all-time leader for receiving yards by a tight end.
“There’s guys like Jermaine Gresham, Keith Jackson, Trent Smith and James Hanna,” Andrews said. “All those type of guys who have played here and have been incredible tight ends who have gone on to have great NFL careers. To be the first to have that award, it’s extremely humbling. All those guys are incredible players and I’m incredibly honored to be able to receive this award and bring this award to the University of Oklahoma.”
With the award already in hand, Andrews will get to spend time with his mom, dad and brother in Atlanta without any nerves.
Meanwhile, Mayfield and Brown still await their fate. Mayfield is up for the Maxwell Award for the college player of the year and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, while Brown is a finalist for the Outland Trophy which is given to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman.
“All those ... who have played here and have been incredible tight ends who have gone on to have great NFL careers. To be the first to have that award, it’s extremely humbling. All those guys are incredible players and I’m incredibly honored to be able to receive this award and bring this award to the University of Oklahoma.”
OU tight end Mark Andrews
“I honestly would rather it be this way,” Andrews said. “Right now, I just get to relax and enjoy this whole process and take it in. People like Orlando and Baker, they still have to go out there and win that award. I just get to take it easy, have fun and enjoy it. I guess they may be stressing out a little bit.”
Mayfield is a veteran of the show (6 p.m., ESPN), having attended it last year with Biletnikoff winner Dede Westbrook as a finalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards.
Brown and Andrews, however, are rookies.
“He definitely knows all the tricks of the trade for this trip,” Andrews said of Mayfield. “Just having a guy like that who knows all the ins and outs and places to go, it’s just going to make this experience that much better. I’m thankful to have a guy like that who has been there before.”
Andrews and his teammates hope to book a return trip to Atlanta in a month for the national championship. But first, the Sooners have to get through Georgia in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.