Hikutini Named Semifinalist for the John Mackey Award
November 14, 2016 | Football
Senior tight end leads the team with 38 receptions.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville football senior Cole Hikutini was selected as one of eight semifinalists for the 2016 John Mackey Award, The Friends of John Mackey announced on Monday morning.
The Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football and has been presented each year since 2000.
The Sacramento, Calif., native, Hikutini has put together a stellar senior season, catching a career-high 35 passes for 526 yards to average 13.8 yards per catch. He is tied for the team lead with six touchdowns.
In guiding the Cardinals to a 9-1 record, and helping shape the nation's top offense, Hikutini has at least one catch in every game this year, and has improved his season totals from his junior season, when he caught 19 passes for 348 yards and three scores.
In eight games as a starter, Hikutini has five games of four or more receptions, including a career-high seven catches for 84 yards in a loss to Clemson on Oct. 1. He recorded his second 100-yard game of his career – totaling a career-high 120 yards and a score versus Virginia on Oct. 29
Hikutini has also improved on his blocking this season, helping the Cardinals accumulate 2,700 yards on the ground through 10 games.
Finalists for the Mackey Award will be announced on Nov. 22. The 2016 John Mackey Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 7, 2016, and presented live on Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show airing at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
The Cardinals face Houston in a nationally televised game on ESPN on Thursday at 8 p.m.
