Kansas Tight End Ragone Named to Mackey Award Watch List

July 10, 2012

BETHPAGE, N.Y. – Kansas senior tight end Mike Ragone has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The commission released its list of 33 student-athletes up for the award, which recognizes the top tight end in the country each year, on Tuesday.

Ragone, a 6-foot-4, 262-pound senior from Cherry Hill, N.J., transferred to KU from Notre Dame on April 17. Ragone played five seasons for the Fighting Irish, appearing in 37 games. He recorded 11 catches for 109 yards at Notre Dame, including six receptions for 60 yards in 2009. He missed the entire 2008 season with an injury and was lost for all but one game in 2011.

Ragone was rated as the No. 3 tight end in the country coming out of high school and the third-best player at any position coming out of New Jersey following his senior year at Camden Catholic High School. He was named the No. 2 tight end in the nation and 33rd-best prospect by CSTV/Tom Lemming and was rated the 55th-best prospect in the nation and No. 2 tight end in his class on the ESPN 150 list.

Given annually to the most outstanding tight end in the country, the award recipient is selected by a vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee with the winner recognized at The Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on Dec. 6. Other key dates include the announcement of the Mackey semi-finalists on Nov. 12 and of finalists on Nov. 19.

For more information, please visit: www.johnmackeyaward.org.

Kansas football will open the 2012 season at home against South Dakota State on Sept. 1.