July 11, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior Mike Gesicki (Manahawkin, N.J.) is the latest Nittany Lion to appear on a preseason watch list as he was among the candidates for the 2017 John Mackey Award. Gesicki appears on the preseason Mackey watch list for the second-straight season.
The Mackey Award 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.
On Monday, junior running back Saquon Barkley (Coplay, Pa.) and junior quarterback Trace McSorley (Ashburn, Va.) were named to the Maxwell Award watch list for the National Player of the Year, while senior safety Marcus Allen (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and senior linebacker Jason Cabinda (Flemington, N.J.) are nominees for the Bednarik Award for the National Defensive Player of the Year.
Gesicki, who is a preseason All-American according to Athlon, Street & Smith, Lindy's and Sporting News, had a breakout campaign in 2016, breaking the Penn State single-season record for receptions and yardage by a tight end. His 48 catches broke the record held by Andrew Quarless (41; 2009) and his 679 receiving yards best Mickey Shuler's previous mark of 600 receiving yards (1977). Gesicki also tied the Penn State season record for touchdown catches for a tight end (5) in 2016. He led the Big Ten and was tied for seventh nationally in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. For his efforts, Gesicki was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches. Gesicki has four or more catches in seven of his last 12 games.
The Nittany Lions' home schedule features a trio of non-conference games, including Pitt's first visit to Beaver Stadium since 1999. The Nittany Lions open the season against Akron (Sept. 2; noon) and face Pitt (Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m.) and Georgia State (Sept. 16) to close out a three-game homestand to start the year. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Indiana (Sept. 30), Michigan (Oct. 21), Rutgers (Nov. 11; noon - Homecoming) and Nebraska (Nov. 18) to Happy Valley. Nearly 8,700 new season tickets have been sold for the 2017 campaign. The public single-game ticket sale opens Tuesday, July 11. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2017 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.