Iowa State football: E.J. Bibbs not a finalist for John Mackey Award
By Brian Spaen
Iowa State’s heralded tight end, E.J. Bibbs, doesn’t make the top three in the latest 2014 John Mackey Award watch list.
The official football Twitter account announced that Bibbs wasn’t a finalist for the award, but still applauded him for making the final eight.
E.J. Bibbs didn't make the final three for the @JohnMackeyAward. Still a great honor to be in the final eight. #Cyclones
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) November 25, 2014
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Last week, Bibbs was one of the last eight to be named on the list. He was joined by Evan Engram of Ole Miss, Ben Koyack of Notre Dame, Jimmay Mundine of Kansas, Nick O’Leary of Florida State, Jean Sifrin of Massachusetts, Clive Walford of Miami, and Maxx Williams of Minnesota. Of that group, Williams, Walford, and O’Leary are the ones that made the cut.
A favorite could be the Minnesota tight end. Williams does lead his team in receptions (28), receiving yards (418) and touchdowns (7), and has the largest percentage of the team’s catches and receiving touchdowns.
Bibbs is currently third on Iowa State with 382 reception yards, but leads the team in catches (45) and touchdowns (8). The next closest player to as many touchdown catches is Allen Lazard with three. Not only does he lead the team with catches and touchdowns, but he also leads all of the Power Five conferences.
The tight end may have a setback, however. He’s sore from the last outing against Texas Tech and is not at 100 percent. Head coach Paul Rhoads expects him to play, but it’s not a guarantee.