NEW YORK, N.Y. – Cal sixth-year senior tight end Ray Hudson was selected Friday by The Friends of John Mackey to the preseason watch list for the 2018 John Mackey Award given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. Hudson was granted a sixth season of collegiate eligibility in January after missing the entire 2017 campaign due to an injury suffered in training camp.

The award recipient is selected by vote the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and will be announced on December 5, one day before being presented with the award at The Home Depot College Football Awards show to be televised live December 6 on ESPNU.

Hudson is one of six Cal players to have earned spots on watch lists or be recognized as candidates for national awards in 2018 with the others senior running back Patrick Laird (Maxwell Award Watch List, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Nominee, Doak Walker Award Watch List), senior inside linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (Lott IMPACT Trophy), junior wide receiver Kanawai Noa (Biletnikoff Award), senior center Addison Ooms (Rimington Trophy) and senior wide receiver Vic Wharton III (Biletnikoff Award).

For more information visit JohnMackeyAward.com and follow @JohnMackeyAward on Twitter.

Below are notes on Hudson with an extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Ray Hudson, 6-3, 245, Sr., 3L, Pleasanton, CA (Foothill HS)
• Has played in 34 games with nine starts seeing all of his action from 2014-16 after redshirting as a true freshman in 2013 and before missing the 2017 season as a fifth-year senior due to injury
• Has contributed career totals of 34 receptions, 429 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions as well as an average of 12.6 yards per reception
• Had career bests of 16 receptions, 165 yards receiving, three touchdown catches and 172 all-purpose yards as a 2016 junior when he also started a career-high seven contests
 
The John Mackey Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The members of the NCFAA are unveiling preseason watch lists for 17 of their 24 awards over a 12-day period from July 16-27. Following is the entire 2018 preseason watch list calendar.
 
2018 Preseason Watch List Calendar
Monday, July 16 – Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award
Tuesday, July 17 – Davey O'Brien Award
Wednesday, July 18 – Doak Walker Award
Thursday, July 19 – Biletnikoff Award
Friday, July 20 – John Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy
Monday, July 23 – Thorpe Award, Butkus Award
Tuesday, July 24 – Outland Trophy, Nagurski Award
Wednesday, July 25 – Groza Award, Ray Guy Award
Thursday, July 26 – Hornung Award, Wuerffel Trophy
Friday, July 27 – Walter Camp Award
 
2018 Cal Football Coverage
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