Three Bulldogs named to 2022 John Mackey Award Watch List

UGA football sophomores Arik Gilbert and Brock Bowers and junior Darnell Washington have each been named to the 2022 John Mackey Award Watch List, The Friends of John Mackey have announced.

The three Georgia Bulldogs join 51 other tight ends on the 2022 John Mackey list. The award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end.

The winner of the 2022 John Mackey Award will be announced in December and then presented at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show live on ESPN.

Other SEC tight ends named to the 2022 John Mackey Award watch List include Cameron Latu (Alabama), John Samuel (Auburn), Austin Stogner (South Carolina), Jaheim Bell (South Carolina), Michael Trigg (Ole Miss), Jacob Warren (Tennessee), Ben Bresnahan (Vanderbilt), and Camren McDonald (Florida).

Arik Gilbert, a native of Marietta, Ga., transferred to UGA from LSU last season but did not play. In his 2020 season at LSU, Gilbert played in eight games and recorded 35 receptions for 368 yards (10.5 avg.) and two touchdowns.

Brock Bowers hails from Napa, Calif. In his freshman season in Athens, Bowers started 13 games and played in all 15 and and caught 56 passes for 882 yards (15.8 avg.) and 13 touchdowns.

Darnell Washington, who hails from Las Vegas, Nevada, played in 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2021. He caught 10 passes for 154 yards (15.4 avg.) and one touchdown.

The national champion Georgia Bulldogs are scheduled to open the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against the Oregon Ducks in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

2022 UGA Football Schedule

Not 1⃣, not 2⃣, but 3⃣ Dawgs named to the John Mackey Award Watch List, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end!

Arik Gilbert, @brockbowers17, @_Dwfootball11 #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/el0xgK3reh

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) July 22, 2022