KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee senior tight end Ethan Davis was named to the John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday afternoon.
Davis, who enters his fourth season as a Volunteer, was one of 43 total players and 10 SEC players named to the award’s 2026 preseason watch list. The Mackey Award is presented annually to the best tight end in college football.
Davis has already garnered Preseason All-SEC fourth team honors from Athlon and Phil Steele and will look to continue his ascension in UT’s offense this season after posting career highs in receptions (21), receiving yards (257) and touchdown catches (two) in 2025 despite missing four games due to injury.
The Atlanta native earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2024 after playing in 12 games and pulling in 13 receptions for 100 yards and a pair of touchdown grabs.
A full list of Vols who have garnered preseason honors can be found below.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
DB Ty Redmond
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
P Jackson Ross
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
