Photo by: Josh McDaniel
11/12/2026 12:07:00 PM | Football
The fourth-year tight end was the only Group of Six player named among the nine honorees.
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Eli Finley was named one of nine semifinalists on Wednesday for the John Mackey Award, which is presented to the nation's most outstanding tight end.
Finley has already received multiple recognitions from the award's committee, being named to the 2026 John Mackey Award Preseason Watchlist and was the Week 8 John Mackey Award Player of the Week after posting 10 receptions, 128 receiving yards and a touchdown against Old Dominion.
The Heath, Texas native has 46 receptions, 521 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns so far this season. His catch total is the fourth-most in the Sun Belt and is one of three pass catchers in the conference with 40+ receptions and 500+ receiving yards. Finley and Jalen Mickens are also the only duo from the same school to each have 40 receptions.
Finley has also contributed to two of LA Tech's SBC-best eight 100-yard receiving performances, as he is one of three Bulldogs alongside Mickens and Marcus Calwise Jr. with multiple 100-yard games this year, with those three student-athletes being the most for a single school in the league with multiple such performances.
He is also a two-time Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week Honorable Mention this season, one of which he received the honors for his efforts against Old Dominion and the second was two weeks prior for his 9-114-2 stat line against UL-Lafayette on October 10.
Finley and the Bulldogs have three regular-season games remaining with the next two being played at home. LA Tech hosts Southern Miss at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium for a Sun Belt clash on Saturday, November 14 at 4 p.m. CT.
2026 John Mackey Award Semifinalists
Kari Ashley – TCU
Rockey Beers – Oklahoma
Eli Finley – Louisiana Tech
Jamari Johnson – Oregon
Patrick Overmyer – Houston
Luke Reynolds – Virginia Tech
Willie Rodriguez – Kentucky
Jelani Thurman – North Carolina
DJ Vonnahme – Iowa
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Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
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Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
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Finley has already received multiple recognitions from the award's committee, being named to the 2026 John Mackey Award Preseason Watchlist and was the Week 8 John Mackey Award Player of the Week after posting 10 receptions, 128 receiving yards and a touchdown against Old Dominion.
The Heath, Texas native has 46 receptions, 521 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns so far this season. His catch total is the fourth-most in the Sun Belt and is one of three pass catchers in the conference with 40+ receptions and 500+ receiving yards. Finley and Jalen Mickens are also the only duo from the same school to each have 40 receptions.
Finley has also contributed to two of LA Tech's SBC-best eight 100-yard receiving performances, as he is one of three Bulldogs alongside Mickens and Marcus Calwise Jr. with multiple 100-yard games this year, with those three student-athletes being the most for a single school in the league with multiple such performances.
He is also a two-time Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Player of the Week Honorable Mention this season, one of which he received the honors for his efforts against Old Dominion and the second was two weeks prior for his 9-114-2 stat line against UL-Lafayette on October 10.
Finley and the Bulldogs have three regular-season games remaining with the next two being played at home. LA Tech hosts Southern Miss at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium for a Sun Belt clash on Saturday, November 14 at 4 p.m. CT.
2026 John Mackey Award Semifinalists
Kari Ashley – TCU
Rockey Beers – Oklahoma
Eli Finley – Louisiana Tech
Jamari Johnson – Oregon
Patrick Overmyer – Houston
Luke Reynolds – Virginia Tech
Willie Rodriguez – Kentucky
Jelani Thurman – North Carolina
DJ Vonnahme – Iowa
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources. Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the CHAMP fund, a revenue-sharing initiative designed to directly support LA Tech Athletics through NIL and marketing opportunities for Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand. You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents. By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way. Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Football, follow us on X (@LATechFB), Instagram (@LATechFB), and Facebook (LATechFootball).
Players Mentioned
Saturday, April 25
Saturday, April 25
Saturday, April 25
Tuesday, December 30
