Williams on Mackey list

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams has been named to the John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List, which was announced Monday.

The John Mackey Award is given annually to the nation’s best collegiate tight end as selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee. The midseason list is meant to draw attention to tight ends in consideration for the award based on their performances in the first half of the season.

Williams is the NCAA’s active career leader in receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. The senior from Little Rock, Ark., has 124 career receptions and 1,507 career receiving yards. His receptions total, which is 30 more than the next-closest active tight end, stands as Arkansas’ record by a non-wide receiver and ranks him seventh on UA’s all-time catches list. His yards are more than 300 yards ahead of the second-place active tight end and rank 12th on the program’s all-time list. This season, Williams has 26 receptions for 279 yards.

The 2010 John Mackey Award semifinalists will be announced Nov. 15, with the announcement of the three finalists coming Nov. 22. The award winner will be announced Dec. 9.

Williams and the rest of the 21st-ranked Razorbacks return to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium this weekend when they host Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 11:21 a.m., with the game to be broadcast on the SEC Network.