LSU Tight End Richard Dickson

MANHASSET, N.Y. — LSU senior tight end Richard Dickson has been named to the 2009 John Mackey Award preseason watch list, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate tight end, the Nassau County Sports Commission announced on Wednesday.

Dickson, a native of Ocean Springs, Miss., heads into his final LSU season with a shot at breaking every tight end receiving record in school history. For his career, he has caught 69 passes for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns in 39 games.

Dickson’s 10 touchdown receptions are tied with Brad Boyd for the most in school history, while his 69 receptions is the fourth-highest total and the 795 yards are the fifth most in school history.

In 2008, he earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors after hauling in 31 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns. Dickson started all 13 games, ranking third on the team in receptions and yards and was second on the squad in touchdown catches.

The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2009 award winner will be announced on Dec. 10, 2009. Since 2000, the John Mackey Award boasts eight NFL players as alumni.

NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to his community and his place in history as the first President of the NFLPA.

LSU reports to camp a week from today on Aug. 5 with practice scheduled to begin a day later. LSU opens its fifth year under head coach Les Miles on Sept. 5 when the Tigers travel to face Washington in Seattle. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN.

Source: LSUSports.net

Alem heads into the 2009 season as one of the Tigers’ starters at defensive end. For his career, Alem has racked up 17 tackles for losses and 10 sacks in 31 games with one start.

Alem, a native of New Orleans, led LSU with eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for losses last season while recording 29 total tackles and seven quarterback hurries. He ranked third in the Southeastern Conference in sacks and eighth in the league in tackles for losses in 2008.

Alem is one of four SEC players on the watch list joining Florida’s Jermaine Cunningham, Auburn’s Antonio Coleman and Greg Hardy of Ole Miss.

Now in its eighth season, the Ted Hendricks Award is named in honor of college football’s first three-time first-team All-American. As a defensive end at the University of Miami, Ted used his agility, height and reach to block passes and kicks, force interceptions and pressure quarterbacks and running backs.

His professional career spanned 15 years and 215 consecutive games. It included four Super Bowl victories, eight Pro Bowl selections and inductions into the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

It is in the spirit of Ted Hendricks’ aggressive style of play, winning attitude and determination that the Defensive End of the Year Award for college football’s premier defensive end is presented.

On-field performance, exceptional winning attitude, leadership abilities, contributions to school and community and academic preparedness are some of the criteria used to determine the award’s winner. Members of the national media, head coaches, professional scouts and former winners are included in the Award’s voting committee.

Candidates may represent any class (freshman through senior) as well as any four-year NCAA accredited school. The candidate’s primary position must be defensive end. Players may be added or deleted, depending on performance, injury or other circumstances.  The 2009 winner will be announced on December 9.

Source: LSUSports.Net