Tyler Eifert wins Mackey award

BETHPAGE, NY (WANE) Bishop Dwenger grad and current Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert has won the 2012 John Mackey Award.  The announcement was made by the Nassau County Sports Commission Wednesday morning.  

Eifert, who holds the all time record for pass receptions by a tight end at Notre Dame, beat out Zach Ertz of Stanford and Austin Seferian-Jenkins of Washington for the prestigious award. 

According to the Nassau County Sports Commission, the The John Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey. The 2012 John Mackey Award recipient was determined by confidential balloting of the John Mackey Selection Committee.  

The senior caught 44 passes for 624 yards and four touchdowns while helping Notre Dame Notre Dame finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1988.  The Fighting Irish will play Alabama in the Discover BCS National Championship Game. 

The John Mackey Award has been presented since 2000 and some notable recipients include Dallas Clark, Heath Miller and Aaron Hernandez.

The John Mackey Award trophy will be presented to Eifert on December 6, 2012, LIVE on ESPNU, at 6:30pm EST as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show.