11/11/26 | Football
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon's Jamari Johnson was announced on Wednesday as one of nine semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the nation's most outstanding tight end.Â
Johnson is the fourth Duck to be named a Mackey Award semifinalist, and second in a row after Kenyon Sadiq was a finalist in 2025. Ed Dickson (2009) and George Wrighster (2002) were also previously semifinalists for Oregon.Â
Johnson is one of two Big Ten tight ends to be selected as semifinalists, along with Iowa's DJ Vonnahme.Â
The Mackey Award selection committee will narrow the semifinalist field to three finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 24. The winner of the 2026 John Mackey Award will be revealed during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11.Â
A junior in his second year with the Ducks after transferring from Louisville, Johnson has caught 29 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns in 2026 while playing in seven of Oregon's nine games. He added his first career rushing touchdown in last week's win at then-No. 12 Ohio State, taking the snap on a two-yard sneak to put UO up 17-14 just before halftime.Â
Johnson was named the John Mackey Award Player of the Week for his performance in Oregon's Week 4 win at then-No. 12 USC, when he returned from a two-game injury absence to catch a career-high seven passes for a career-best 119 yards. It was the most yards by an Oregon tight end since 2016 and tied for the fifth-most by an FBS tight end in 2026.
The Inglewood, Calif., native caught the game-winning touchdown in Oregon's win over Nebraska in Week 7, and he also had receiving touchdowns in wins over Boise State and then-No. 20 Northwestern.Â
Johnson put together a solid first season with the Ducks in 2025 while playing behind Sadiq with 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores during the College Football Playoff.Â
Johnson and the Ducks (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) moved up seven spots to No. 16 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday and have three regular-season games remaining, beginning with a home showdown against Michigan this Saturday, Nov. 14, in Autzen Stadium (12:30 p.m. PT, FS1).Â
2026 John Mackey Award Semifinalists
Luke Reynolds (Virginia Tech)
Jelani Thurman (North Carolina)
Kari Ashley (TCU)
Rocky Beers (Oklahoma)
Patrick Overmyer (Houston)
Eli Finley (Louisiana Tech)
Jamari Johnson (Oregon)
Willie Rodriguez (Kentucky)
DJ Vonnahme (Iowa)
Johnson is the fourth Duck to be named a Mackey Award semifinalist, and second in a row after Kenyon Sadiq was a finalist in 2025. Ed Dickson (2009) and George Wrighster (2002) were also previously semifinalists for Oregon.Â
Johnson is one of two Big Ten tight ends to be selected as semifinalists, along with Iowa's DJ Vonnahme.Â
The Mackey Award selection committee will narrow the semifinalist field to three finalists, who will be announced on Nov. 24. The winner of the 2026 John Mackey Award will be revealed during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11.Â
A junior in his second year with the Ducks after transferring from Louisville, Johnson has caught 29 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns in 2026 while playing in seven of Oregon's nine games. He added his first career rushing touchdown in last week's win at then-No. 12 Ohio State, taking the snap on a two-yard sneak to put UO up 17-14 just before halftime.Â
Johnson was named the John Mackey Award Player of the Week for his performance in Oregon's Week 4 win at then-No. 12 USC, when he returned from a two-game injury absence to catch a career-high seven passes for a career-best 119 yards. It was the most yards by an Oregon tight end since 2016 and tied for the fifth-most by an FBS tight end in 2026.
The Inglewood, Calif., native caught the game-winning touchdown in Oregon's win over Nebraska in Week 7, and he also had receiving touchdowns in wins over Boise State and then-No. 20 Northwestern.Â
Johnson put together a solid first season with the Ducks in 2025 while playing behind Sadiq with 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores during the College Football Playoff.Â
Johnson and the Ducks (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) moved up seven spots to No. 16 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday and have three regular-season games remaining, beginning with a home showdown against Michigan this Saturday, Nov. 14, in Autzen Stadium (12:30 p.m. PT, FS1).Â
2026 John Mackey Award Semifinalists
Luke Reynolds (Virginia Tech)
Jelani Thurman (North Carolina)
Kari Ashley (TCU)
Rocky Beers (Oklahoma)
Patrick Overmyer (Houston)
Eli Finley (Louisiana Tech)
Jamari Johnson (Oregon)
Willie Rodriguez (Kentucky)
DJ Vonnahme (Iowa)
Players Mentioned
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