Fifth-year senior Coby Fleener was named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which recognizes the top collegiate tight end at the end of each season.
Given since 2000, the honor will be awarded at the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on Dec. 8.
Fleener set personal bests in all major offensive categories for the Cardinal this season as the team’s third-leading receiver, with 28 catches for 434 yards and seven touchdowns. He crossed the goal line three times in a 14:44 span in the Orange Bowl to help Stanford break ahead of Virginia Tech in the second half of a 40-12 win. In doing so, he set career highs in touchdowns (3), receiving yards (178) and receptions (6). All three touchdowns were from at least 38 yards out, with the second one—Fleener’s longest at Stanford—going for 58.
An All-Pac-10 second-team selection after last season, he will join juniors Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo to fill out a strong tight end corps this year.
–Joseph Beyda