Oct. 14, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior tight end Kyle Carter (Bear, Del.) has been named to the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List. The Mackey Awards is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position.
Carter is on the Mackey Award Midseason Watch List for the second time in his career (2012). He leads the tight end corps with nine receptions for 99 yards. His 11.0 yards per reception average is tops among tight ends on the team. He had a season-long 35-yard catch against San Diego State in the third quarter. He made three receptions for 30 yards in a fourth-quarter drive against Indiana to lead to a Christian Hackenberg rushing touchdown. Among the most experienced returning players on the roster, Carter has played in 40 of the last 43 games, including 17 career starts.
The Bear, Delaware native made 16 receptions for 153 yards in 2014. Carter hauled in the touchdown reception that led to Sam Ficken's game-winning extra point in the thrilling 31-30 victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he graduated in December 2014 with a degree in kinesiology.
The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2015 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 9, 2015 and then presented live on December 10, 2015 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the announcement of the 2015 Mackey Semi-finalists on November 16, 2015 and the 2015 Mackey Finalists on November 24, 2015. All future announcements can be found at www.johnmackeyaward.com.
The Nittany Lions visit unbeaten Ohio State Saturday at 8 p.m. for an ABC national telecast before the clash with Maryland. Coverage on the Penn State Sports Network begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the Nittany Lions' last two home games are available. Penn State hosts Illinois on Oct. 31 and Michigan on Nov. 21 for Senior Day and a Penn State WhiteOut. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.