NEW YORK — The Friends of John Mackey today released the 2021 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, naming BYU's Isaac Rex as a candidate for the award given annually to the most outstanding tight end in the nation.
A native of San Clemente, California, Rex started as a redshirt freshman in 2020 in place of injured star senior Matt Bushman and had an immediate impact helping BYU achieve an 11-1 record to finish No. 11 in the final rankings. Rex had a breakout year to rank No. 1 in nation along with 2020 Mackey Award winner Kyle Pitts of Florida with 12 receiving touchdowns and 72 points scored by a tight end last season.
The 6-foot-6, 247-pound tight end also ranked tied for No. 3 nationally in receiving touchdowns among all position players in 2020, while helping BYU's offense rank No. 4 in scoring (43.5), No. 7 in total offense (522.2) and No. 8 in passing offense (322.1). Rex's contributions earned 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team honors and 2020 Freshman All-America accolades by The Athletic.
Rex led all FBS freshmen tight ends last year in receptions (37), receiving yards (429) and receiving touchdowns (12). He led BYU in receiving touchdowns while ranking fourth in receptions and receiving yards as a key weapon in BYU's high-powered attack. Rex recorded two touchdown catches in five different games in 2020 and tallied a season-high 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five receptions in BYU's 49-23 Boca Raton Bowl victory over UCF.
Rex is the son of former BYU tight end Byron Rex. The senior Rex totaled 87 receptions, 1,209 yards and seven touchdowns in his career for the Cougars. He earned All-America honors as a senior in 1992 after posting 45 catches, 612 yards and five scores.
The recipient of the annual Mackey Award is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. Select the following link for a complete list of the 2021 John Mackey Award Watch List.