M.J. Devonshire was named as the Jim Thorpe Award Cornerback of the Week after Week 1, and despite the loss to Tennessee on Saturday, another Pitt player has garnered national recognition.
Gavin Bartholomew, fresh off a career-high 84 yards and a touchdown on five receptions against the Volunteers, has been named as the John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week.
The notable play of the game for Pitt came in the second quarter when Bartholomew motioned out, found a pocket down the field and hurdled a Tennessee defender on the way to a 57-yard touchdown reception.
“I mean it happened so fast,” Bartholomew said Saturday after the game. “I just knew he was going to tackle me, so I just said, “Screw it. I’m jumping him,” and then I was in the end zone.”
Bartholomew emerged as a critical component of the offense during his true freshman season in 2021, hauling in 28 of 29 targets for 325 yards and four touchdowns opposing Lucas Krull. That one-two punch served as a security blanket for Kenny Pickett, and Bartholomew earned Freshman All-American honors for his work.
The Mackey Award watchlist that was released in July featured Bartholomew, and with Saturday’s breakout performance, there’s a good chance he will continue to remain under the watchful eye of the committee as the season rolls on. He has six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown through two games.
The 2022 John Mackey Award will be presented during ESPN’s live telecast of the College Football Awards in December.
