Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson has been named the winner of the 2018 John Mackey Award. The announcement was made early Wednesday afternoon.

Hockenson is the first sophomore to ever win the award and is the second Hawkeyes tight end to earn the honor. Dallas Clark also was a Mackey Award recipient following the 2002 season.

The Iowa tight end will receive the award during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN Thursday night.

Hockenson had a sensational sophomore campaign, hauling in 46 receptions for 717 yards and six touchdowns. He was also an elite blocker for his position.

Fellow teammate Noah Fant was also up for the award late in the season and was named a semifinalist. He did not make the cut as a finalist for the Mackey Award.

Hockenson was the top pass-catching tight end in the B1G this season and had two games with over 100 receiving yards. His best performance came against Indiana when he caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in Iowa’s blowout victory over the Hoosiers.

This is the fifth time the B1G has claimed the Mackey Award. Previous winners include: Tim Stratton (Purdue, 2000), Clark (Iowa, 2002), Matt Spaeth (Minnesota, 2006) and Jake Butt (Michigan, 2016).