Samuels Named A Semifinalist For The Mackey Award

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State's jack-of-all-trades Jaylen Samuels has been named one of eight semifinalists for the 2017 John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding collegiate tight end. 
 
Samuels leads all eight finalists in receptions with 62 for the season and is the only active player with 15 career rushing touchdowns and 15 career receiving touchdowns – in fact, no other active player has more than 11 of each. He ranks 17th in the FBS and third in the ACC in touchdowns with 13 this season, including four receiving.
 
The Charlotte native, who was named to midseason All-America teams as a tight end and all-purpose player in 2017, needs just 13 receptions to set a new Wolfpack record.
 
Samuels joins Mark Andrews (Jr., Oklahoma), Adam Breneman (Sr., Massachusetts), Troy Fumagalli (Sr., Wisconsin), Mike Gesicki (Sr., Penn State), Chris Herndon (Sr. Miami,), Hayden Hurst (Jr., South Carolina, JR) and Cam Serigne (Sr., Wake Forest) on the list of semi-finalists. The finalists will be announced on Nov. 20 and the winner will be presented live at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7.