Kolar named to Mackey Award watch list

Oct 5, 2019; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones tight end Charlie Kolar (88) catches a pass for a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State redshirt junior tight end Charlie Kolar added his third accolade in the last two days on Friday when he was named to the watch list for the Mackey Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best tight end.

That followed a Thursday which saw Kolar earn spots on the preseason All-Big 12 team and the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Kolar solidified himself as one of the nation’s best tight ends in 2019, earning a spot as a Mackey Award semifinalists, after catching 51 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. Each of those marks led the Big 12, and the 697 yards was a new program record.

That output earned Kolar second-team All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America along with consensus first-team All-Big 12 honors.

He was the first player in program history to earn All-American honors on the field plus Academic All-American honors in the classroom.