South Carolina football: Nick Muse named to John Mackey award watch list

South Carolina football player Nick Muse has been named to the John Mackey award preseason watch list.

The preseason watchlist for the 2020 John Mackey award, given to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate tight end, was released earlier today, and one Gamecock found his name on the ballot.

Established in 2000, the prestigious trophy is awarded to the player that best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey. South Carolina senior Nick Muse was one of 36 players nominated for the honor.

The list includes nine members from the SEC, headlined by Florida’s Kyle Pitts. The only freshman to make the cut is five-star prospect Arik Gilbert who will suit up for Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers this season. Other notable names include Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth, Miami’s Brevin Jordan, and Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar

Past winners include NFLers Dallas Clark, Heath Miller, Mercedes Lewis, Tyler Eifert, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Hunter Henry, Jake Butt, and TJ Hockenson. Last year’s award went to Florida Atlantic’s Harrison Bryant.

Muse, who’s only spent one season in Columbia, has a chance to be a dangerous weapon in the South Carolina offense this year. One of the more athletic tight ends in the SEC, he suffered an ACL tear in the Gamecocks’ ninth game as a junior, which resulted in offseason knee surgery.

If the veteran can return to full health next year, he’ll have an extremely high ceiling and could be one of the top options in a Carolina offense that’s lacking proven play-makers at the skill positions. He’s got the speed to beat linebackers in coverage, and the size to win battles over smaller defensive backs. He did struggle with drops at times last season, but that’s an issue that can be remedied.

In 2019, Muse caught 17 passes totaling 158 yards from his end spot. He recorded a season-high 31 receiving yards in the Gamecocks’ upset win over Georgia. Prior to transferring to South Carolina, he spent two seasons at William & Mary. He became just the second Tribe tight end to start as a true freshman in 2017, and followed it up by performing at an all-conference level as a sophomore.

For his career, the North Carolina native has tallied 51 receptions for a total of 666 yards and two scores.