Oklahoma Sooners Rocky Beers Named 2026 John Mackey Award Semifinalist
Oklahoma Sooners Rocky Beers Named John Mackey Award Semifinalist After Breakout Season
Oklahoma Sooners tight end Rocky Beers has been named one of nine semifinalists for the 2026 John Mackey Award, recognizing the nation's most outstanding college football tight end. The University of Oklahoma announced the honor on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, following a standout season in which Beers has emerged as one of the most productive players at his position in the Southeastern Conference.
The sixth-year tight end leads all SEC tight ends with 57.6 receiving yards per game, ranking fifth nationally through nine games. Beers has recorded 38 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns, placing second on the Sooners in both catches and receiving yards. The recognition also gives Oklahoma an opportunity to produce its second John Mackey Award winner, joining former Sooners standout Mark Andrews, who captured the prestigious honor in 2017.
Oklahoma Sooners Rocky Beers Leads SEC Tight Ends in Receiving Production
The Oklahoma Sooners Rocky Beers semifinalist selection follows an impressive first season in Norman, where the Colorado native has become a reliable receiving target and a key contributor to Oklahoma's offense.
Beers has appeared in all nine games this season, making six starts while establishing himself as one of the SEC's most productive tight ends.
His 518 receiving yards and four touchdowns have placed him among the nation's leaders at the position. His four touchdown receptions are also the most by an Oklahoma tight end in a single season since Brayden Willis recorded seven in 2022.
The University of Oklahoma's November 11 announcement naming Beers a John Mackey Award semifinalist highlights his consistency throughout the season, including multiple receptions in every game and at least four catches in seven of nine contests.
Beers has surpassed 40 receiving yards in seven games and reached at least 65 yards three times, providing the Sooners with a dependable option in the passing game.
His most productive performance came against Michigan, when he caught six passes for a season-high 94 yards.
Against Georgia, Beers recorded a season-high eight receptions for 81 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown catch.
He also produced 72 yards on four receptions against Florida and added 66 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State.
Beers has demonstrated the ability to create explosive plays, recording eight receptions of at least 20 yards, including three touchdown catches from that distance or longer.
His touchdown receptions have included a 40-yard score against UTEP, a 17-yard catch at Georgia, a 20-yard touchdown against Kentucky and a 32-yard scoring reception at Mississippi State.
The production represents a significant development for an Oklahoma offense that has worked to strengthen its tight end position under Jason Witten, the former Dallas Cowboys star who joined the Sooners' coaching staff in 2026.
Beers arrived in Norman after previous college stops at Air Force, Florida International and Colorado State.
Across his college career, he has accumulated 91 receptions for 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns in 45 games, making 19 starts.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end has combined his experience with improved opportunities in Oklahoma's offense, becoming one of the team's most consistent receiving threats.
John Mackey Award Honors College Football's Greatest Tight Ends Since 2000
The John Mackey Award was established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission to recognize the nation's most outstanding collegiate tight end.
The award is named after John Mackey, the legendary Syracuse University and Baltimore Colts player who helped redefine the tight end position through his combination of size, speed, receiving ability and blocking strength.
Mackey played 10 NFL seasons, earned five Pro Bowl selections and helped the Baltimore Colts win Super Bowl V.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential tight ends in professional football history.
Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Mackey became a major figure in professional football labor history.
He served as the first president of the NFL Players Association following the AFL-NFL merger, advocating for improved player compensation, pension benefits and greater rights for professional athletes.
His leadership helped shape the modern relationship between NFL players and team ownership.
The John Mackey Award's official history and namesake tribute recognizes both his transformation of the tight end position and his advocacy for player welfare, including the continuing work of the John Mackey Fund.
The award considers more than receiving statistics. Candidates are evaluated for their overall performance at tight end, including blocking ability, sportsmanship, character and contributions to their teams.
The selection process involves a committee of former players, coaches and sportswriters who evaluate candidates before narrowing the field to finalists and ultimately selecting a winner.
Since its creation, the award has recognized some of college football's most accomplished tight ends.
Tim Stratton of Purdue became the inaugural winner in 2000, while Dallas Clark of Iowa earned the honor in 2002.
Other notable recipients include D.J. Williams of Arkansas, Hunter Henry of Arkansas, Kyle Pitts of Florida and T.J. Hockenson of Iowa.
Georgia's Brock Bowers remains the only player to win the award twice, earning consecutive honors in 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, Penn State's Tyler Warren captured the award following a remarkable season that included 104 receptions for 1,233 yards, setting a new standard for receiving production among Mackey Award winners.
The 2025 honor went to Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers, who finished with 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns.
Stowers' selection marked another significant achievement for an SEC tight end and reinforced the conference's presence among the nation's top players at the position.
Mark Andrews Remains Oklahoma's Only Mackey Award Winner
For Oklahoma, Beers' semifinalist selection carries additional significance because of the program's history of producing outstanding tight ends.
Mark Andrews became the first and only Oklahoma player to win the John Mackey Award in 2017, following one of the most productive seasons by a tight end in Sooners history.
Andrews finished that season with 62 receptions for 958 yards and eight touchdowns, becoming a major receiving threat for quarterback Baker Mayfield during Oklahoma's run to the College Football Playoff.
His performance helped establish the standard for future Sooners tight ends and contributed to his selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Beers' production through nine games represents Oklahoma's strongest receiving performance from a tight end since Andrews' award-winning season.
The John Mackey Award's official selection criteria outline a voting process in which committee members evaluate semifinalists, rank their top three candidates and determine the finalists through a weighted points system.
The 2026 finalists are scheduled to be announced November 24, with the winner expected to be revealed December 11 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Before those decisions, Beers and the Sooners will return to the field for another important SEC matchup.
Oklahoma (5-4, 3-3 SEC) will host No. 19/17 Ole Miss (6-3, 4-3 SEC) on Saturday, November 14, at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Central Time, with the game airing on SEC Network.
The matchup provides Beers another opportunity to strengthen his award credentials while helping Oklahoma pursue a crucial conference victory.
With the Sooners approaching the final stretch of the regular season, Beers' production will remain important to an offense seeking consistency against SEC competition.
Oklahoma Sooners tight end Rocky Beers has earned national recognition as a 2026 John Mackey Award semifinalist after leading SEC tight ends with 57.6 receiving yards per game and recording 38 catches for 518 yards and four touchdowns. The sixth-year standout is pursuing an honor previously won by Oklahoma's Mark Andrews in 2017, with finalists scheduled for November 24 and the winner announced December 11. Beers will have another opportunity to showcase his abilities Saturday when the Sooners host Ole Miss in Norman.
Comments