2012 Mackey Award Watch List: Year of the Tight End in the Big Ten?

If you're a tight end, the Big Ten is probably the place to be in 2012. The level of talent at the position—particularly in terms of NFL-caliber athleticism—is as high as it's been in a long time, whereas the wide receiver position has fallen off pretty sharply. The result? Tight ends as feature receivers are all over the place, and to that end, the Big Ten is heavily represented on the 2012 Mackey Award Watch List.

As a matter of fact, the Big Ten has six tight ends on the Mackey watch list this year, and if anything, the conference is underrepresented in the ranks of elite TEs this year.

The full 2012 Mackey Award watch list is here (PDF file courtesy of nassausports.org), then a breakdown of the Big Ten TEs follows.

CONTENDERS

Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State: As Marcus Hartman pointed out on Twitter, it probably bodes well for Stoneburner's reinstatement that Ohio State is lauding his inclusion on the list, considering Stoneburner had his scholarship stripped for the summer. But when he's eligible, he's probably the most dangerous tight end in the conference—and one of the most dangerous receivers, period.

Jacob Pedersen, Wisconsin: The Badgers feature a pretty run-heavy offense, and they run it well. But if defenses start to cheat run or put at least eight guys in the box, the Wisconsin offense needs to be able to burn them for it, and Pedersen is the perfect tight end to do that.

He's a good enough blocker that when he heads into space it still looks like he's blocking at the second level—and defenders often react accordingly—but he's sure-handed and athletic enough that if he's left open by a run-minded linebacker, he can reliably make the catch and move the chains.

PRETENDERS

Ted Bolser, Indiana: Bolser's inclusion on the list isn't that much of a surprise—he's a junior into his third year starting in an offense that should be pass-heavy—but he's down at No. 8 in our conference tight end rankings. The noteworthy production has just never been there for Bolser, particularly on a team whose record won't do him any favors in national recognition.

THE FORGOTTEN

Ben Cotton, Nebraska: Cotton's Husker TE counterpart Kyler Reed made the watch list, and for good reason; voters like stats, and catching footballs equal stats. But this is the Nebraska offense we're talking about, and what do the Huskers need more: two or three catches a game from the tight end, or a pass-eligible, 6'6", 255-pound tight end who mashes as well as Cotton does? He's a more complete tight end than Reed, which is why he starts, and his exclusion by the Mackey committee is thusly disappointing.

Garry Gilliam, Penn State: Now look, we understand why the Mackey Award might hold off on citing Gilliam, seeing as how he's missed the last 20 games due to knee problems and all. But he's healthy, he's huge (6'3", 277) and he's one of Bill O'Brien's starting tight ends at PSU. You might remember how Bill O'Brien used Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski last year. He loves his tight ends, and Gilliam will likely be a bigger weapon than many of the watch list nominees this year.