University of North Carolina Athletics
Thurman Tabbed To Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
August 5, 2026 | Football
North Carolina tight end Jelani Thurman has been named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, which recognizes the nation's top collegiate tight ends.
Thurman, in his first season with the Tar Heels, is one of 43 players tabbed to the watch list and one of eight from the ACC to garner the recognition.Â
He spent the past three seasons at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2025. The redshirt junior played in every game for OSU the past two years and appeared in five games as a true freshman.
Last year, the Fairburn, Georgia, native finished the season with seven receptions for 84 yards with a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) advanced metrics, Thurman graded out at 82.9 in 2025, the seventh best on the offense.Â
During his redshirt freshman season, he notched four receptions for 42 yards with a TD against Indiana, the first of his career.
The watchlist represents programs from every level of major college football and highlights players who have demonstrated talent, leadership and potential heading into the upcoming season. The John Mackey Award Selection Committee will continue to evaluate candidates throughout the season, with additional players eligible to be added based on their on-field performance.
Presented annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football, the John Mackey Award honors the legacy of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey, whose excellence, leadership, character, and impact on the game continue to inspire generations of student-athletes. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award remains one of college football's premier individual honors for the tight end position.
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The Tar Heels will kick off the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. That game is set for noon ET (5 p.m. local time) on ESPN from Aviva Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets for Carolina football can be purchased by clicking here.
Thurman, in his first season with the Tar Heels, is one of 43 players tabbed to the watch list and one of eight from the ACC to garner the recognition.Â
He spent the past three seasons at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2025. The redshirt junior played in every game for OSU the past two years and appeared in five games as a true freshman.
Last year, the Fairburn, Georgia, native finished the season with seven receptions for 84 yards with a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) advanced metrics, Thurman graded out at 82.9 in 2025, the seventh best on the offense.Â
During his redshirt freshman season, he notched four receptions for 42 yards with a TD against Indiana, the first of his career.
The watchlist represents programs from every level of major college football and highlights players who have demonstrated talent, leadership and potential heading into the upcoming season. The John Mackey Award Selection Committee will continue to evaluate candidates throughout the season, with additional players eligible to be added based on their on-field performance.
Presented annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football, the John Mackey Award honors the legacy of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey, whose excellence, leadership, character, and impact on the game continue to inspire generations of student-athletes. Established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission, the award remains one of college football's premier individual honors for the tight end position.
Â
The Tar Heels will kick off the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. That game is set for noon ET (5 p.m. local time) on ESPN from Aviva Stadium.
Season and single-game tickets for Carolina football can be purchased by clicking here.
Players Mentioned
Tight End
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