IU Football TE Zach Horton has been named to the John Mackey Award Watchlist

IU Football tight end Zach Horton has become the sixth IU Football player to be named to an award watchlist after being named to the John Mackey Award watchlist ahead of the 2024 season. The John Mackey Award is presented annually to the best tight end in college football.

Horton is heading into his first season with Indiana after transferring from James Madison this offseason.

The senior tight end became a key part of Curt Cignetti’s offense over the past two seasons. Horton started in 18 of 24 games including all 13 games in 2023. He has caught 40 passes for 434 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons.

At 6-foot-4, Horton is a big threat in the red zone and should see plenty of red zone opportunities with IU Football. Horton finished fifth nationally among tight ends in touchdowns last season with six.

His 2023 performance led to him to a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection at tight end.

Over the past few years, IU Football has not received much production from its tight ends in the passing game, but with a new offense and the addition of Horton and others, that should change in 2024.

Horton will look to build off of his strong 2023 season in his first season with IU Football.

FULL RELEASE:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Watch list season produced another Hoosier selected for a preseason award, as tight end Zach Horton earned a spot on the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List on Friday (Aug. 9).

The Friends of John Mackey annually award the John Mackey Award to college football’s outstanding tight end. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award is given annually to the tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey. The winner is chosen by a selection committee comprising sportswriters and former players

Horton enters his first season at Indiana after in 23 career games played with 11 starts over three year at James Madison (2021-23). A first-team All-Sun Belt selection as a junior, Horton has amassed 40 receptions in his career for 434 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

His junior season at James Madison included six touchdown grabs, which ranked No. 5 nationally among tight ends. Horton totaled 275 yards receiving on 27 catches and made at least one catch in 10 games with multiple receptions in seven contests. He posted two multi-touchdown games and caught three passes for a season-best 116 yards and two scores versus South Alabama (9/30). The senior also had two touchdown grabs as part of a six-catch, 33-yard day at Georgia State (11/4).

2024 Indiana Football Preseason Accolades

James Bomba – AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

James Evans – Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List

D’Angelo Ponds – Lott Trophy Preseason Watch List

Elijah Sarratt – Bilitikoff Award Preseason Watch List

Solomon Vanhorse – College Football Comeback Player of the Year Preseason Watch List

Zach Horton – John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List

SEE ALSO: IU Football WR Elijah Sarratt named to the Biletnikoff Award Watchlist

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