NEW YORK – San Diego State senior Daniel Bellinger was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award, which goes out to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. It is the second straight season Bellinger made the initial watch list for the award.
Bellinger was an honorable-mention all-Mountain West selection last season, starting all eight games and making 21 catches for 203 yards (9.7 avg.) with a long of 21 yards. Among the tight ends in the Mountain West, Bellinger ranked third in receptions (21) and fifth in receiving yards (203). Bellinger shined over the final three games of the season, where he totaled 12 catches for 112 yards, including career highs of five receptions and 53 yards vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5.
For his career, Bellinger has 37 catches for 414 yards (11.2 avg.) and three touchdowns.
The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey, who is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.
The Aztecs finished 4-4 last year with their four losses coming to teams that went a combined 29-6 (.829).
San Diego State will play seven of its 12 games in 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., and will have only one road contest over the first six weeks of the season. The 2021 home slate features high-profile games against Utah, Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada. Five of the six FBS opponents that the Aztecs will play host to this season finished the 2020 campaign with a .500 or better record. SDSU opens 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 4 against New Mexico State.
San Diego State football single-game tickets and season tickets are on sale. Additionally, three-game mini plans are also currently on sale. For more information, click visit GoAztecs.com/tickets. For questions, please contact the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office, either by email at aztix@sdsu.edu, or by phone at 619-283-7378.
Daniel Bellinger on Mackey Award Watch List
