Texas tight end Jack Endries is making waves before the season even begins. On Friday morning, The Friends of John Mackey announced that Endries has earned a spot on the prestigious preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which honors the most outstanding collegiate tight end in the nation.
This marks Endries’ second consecutive appearance on the Mackey Award watch list—his first came in 2024 while playing for Cal. Now wearing burnt orange, he joins a proud tradition of Longhorn tight ends recognized by the committee. Last season, Gunnar Helm was a semifinalist, following Ja’Tavion Sanders’ back-to-back semifinalist nods in 2022 and 2023.
Endries’ preseason accolades don’t stop there. He was also named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list on August 6 and earned Third-Team All-SEC honors in July, signaling high expectations for his debut season in Austin.
A junior transfer from Cal, Endries arrives with an impressive résumé. Over two seasons, he started all 26 games for the Golden Bears, amassing 1,030 receiving yards on 91 catches with four touchdowns. His 2024 campaign was especially strong—leading Cal in receiving yards (623), ranking third among ACC tight ends, and earning All-ACC Honorable Mention. He posted two 100-yard games, including a career-best 119-yard outing against Pitt and a 101-yard performance versus NC State.
Endries also shined in marquee matchups, hauling in a career-long 57-yard touchdown against No. 8 Miami and finishing the season with a solid showing in the Art of LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk, catching seven passes for 61 yards against UNLV.
As a freshman in 2023, Endries earned Freshman All-America honors from multiple outlets and was Cal’s nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the top FBS player who began as a walk-on.
With 1,030 receiving yards over the past two seasons, Endries enters 2025 as the most productive returning tight end in the Power Four conferences.
Named after NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey—a pioneer at the position and the first president of the NFLPA—the award celebrates excellence on the field and character off it. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 12.
