Gators tight end recognized for tremendous season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s Kyle Pitts was named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and the Mackey Award on Tuesday.
Pitts is the first tight end ever to be named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the first Gator to be named a finalist since Jabar Gaffney in 2001 and the fifth Gator overall to be named a finalist joining Gaffney (2001), Jacquez Green (1997), Reidel Anthony (1996) and Jack Jackson (1994). No Gator has ever won the Biletnikoff Award.
Pitts would become the second Gator to win the Mackey Award.
Pitts quickly became the best tight end and one of the top pass catchers in the country this season with 43 receptions, 770 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Pitts’ 12 receiving touchdowns this season are the second-highest total by a tight end in SEC history. Vanderbilt’s Allama Matthews (14 in 1982) holds the SEC record. His 770 yards this year tie Kirk Kirkpatrick (1990) for second on Florida’s single-season record list for receiving yards by a tight end.
The junior is the first tight end in Gators history and the eighth FBS tight end in the last five years (including 2020) with three games of 100-plus receiving yards in the same season.
The winner of each award is scheduled to be announced live on Jan. 7 on the 30th annual The Home Depot College Football Awards, which will be held virtually from 7-8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
