Ball State University Athletics
Darius Hill Named Semifinalist for John Mackey Award
January 17, 2008 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Darius Hill (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs H.S.), a junior member of the 2007 Ball State University football team, has been named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award.
The Mackey Award is given annually to the best collegiate tight end in the nation and is selected by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and announced Dec. 6. National Football League Hall of Famer John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position.
Hill was one of 32 on the Mackey Award Watch List all season. He is joined as a semifinalist for the award by Gary Barnridge (Louisville), Travis Beckum (Wisconsin), Chase Coffman (Missouri), Fred Davis (USC), Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma), Dustin Keller (Purdue) and Martin Rucker (Missouri).
Hill has 56 catches for 837 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He has 22 career receiving touchdowns, which ties for second on Ball State's all-time list. He tallied 10 touchdown receptions in 2006, which tied the Ball State single-season mark.
Hill, who received honorable mention on the 2006 All-Mid-American Conference Team, played in all 12 games last season. Hill was recognized by Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel as the "Best Player You Have Never Heard Of", and Hill received honorable mention on the SI.com team last season.
