Ole Miss’ Engram Wins 2016 Newsome Award

(Photo Courtesy: Ole Miss Athletics)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – Postseason awards continue to flood in for Ole Miss senior Evan Engram, who on Wednesday was recognized as the winner of the 2016 Ozzie Newsome Award, presented to college football’s best tight end by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.

Engram, who was named first team All-SEC by the Southeastern Conference coaches a day earlier, started all 11 games as a team captain before missing the Egg Bowl with a hamstring injury. The Powder Springs, Georgia, native is the nation’s leading tight end with 5.9 catches per game and 84.2 receiving yards per game. He ranks top three among all SEC players of any position in both catches and yards per game. His eight touchdowns are tied for second nationally among tight ends.

Engram set or tied Ole Miss records for most catches, yards and touchdowns in a season and a career by a tight end. He is the nation’s active leader among tight ends with 2,320 career receiving yards. In 2016, he racked up 65 catches for 926 yards and eight TDs.

His biggest games came against some of the Rebels’ best competition. He put up more than 100 receiving yards against No. 4 Florida State, No. 1 Alabama, No. 22 Arkansas and Vanderbilt. He had touchdown grabs against No. 4 Florida State, No. 1 Alabama, No. 11 Georgia, Memphis, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 15 Auburn, Georgia Southern and Vanderbilt.

Engram’s growing list of postseason honors also already includes the Conerly Trophy, SEC Community Service Team and an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

The 2016 Ozzie Newsome Award will be presented during the 62nd Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Express Live! in downtown Columbus.  For additional information concerning the award and the TDC’s 62-year history, visit www.tdccolumbus.com.