Pat Freiermuth comments on Mackey Award snub, talks about winning it in the future
Pat Freiermuth is a sophomore tight end at Penn State. From an NFL Draft perspective, he is a unique case.
He spent five years in high school, essentially taking a prep year before becoming a Nittany Lion. So, while he is a true sophomore, he is three years removed from high school. Therefore, he is indeed eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft.
From a playing perspective, Freiermuth has put up impressive numbers in his first two years at Penn State.
As a freshman, he caught 26 passes and eight of them were touchdowns. This season, in 10 games, he has caught 34 passes for 424 yards and seven touchdowns. He has been productive to say the least.
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Despite all the productivity, he was not listed as a semifinalist for the yearly John Mackey Award — given to the nation’s top tight end. Is Freiermuth upset by getting snubbed?
Here he is on the matter, while also talking about his future:
Pat Freiermuth was asked about the Mackey Award. Smiled. Knew it was coming. "An award doesn't define who I am or who I am as a player. … My focus right now is on Ohio State."
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 19, 2019
Pat Freiermuth said he plans to win the Mackey Award in the future whether that's next season or the year after. I asked if that means he's committed to being back next year. Said he hasn't thought about his future at this point, focused on Ohio State. He does know he is eligible
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 19, 2019
Did you catch that? He said he plans to win the award in the future. Well, if that’s the case, then the NFL Draft-eligible pass-catcher plans on being in Happy Valley again next season, right? His mind is made up?
Well, he also said that he hasn’t thought about his future at this point. Again, he is eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft as a redshirt sophomore. Will he return?
Thanks to his productivity, he will certainly get attention from NFL Draft evaluators. Perhaps he’ll see in the offseason where he is projected to go in the draft. Then, he can make his decision.
Regarding that decision, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin weighed in:
Franklin asked about Pat Freiermuth not being among the Mackey Award semi-finalist and Jan Johnson not among the Burlsworth Trophy finalists.
"I can't imagine that there's 8 tight ends in the country that people would choose ahead of Pat Freiermuth. One or two? Maybe. Eight?"
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 19, 2019
Franklin knows Freiermuth is talented. He also knows that eight tight ends aren’t better than him. The Mackey Award’s semifinalist list consists of eight tight ends from across the country.