Virginia's Heath Miller Wins John Mackey Award

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Dec. 9, 2004

Manhasset, N.Y. – Virginia tight end Heath Miller (Swords Creek, Va.) is the winner of the 2004 John Mackey Award, the Nassau County Sports Commission announced on Thursday.

Miller edged out finalists Alex Smith (Stanford) and Marcedes Lewis (UCLA) in the closest race in Mackey Award history. The John Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey.

“The entire Virginia football family is thrilled for Heath, and we congratulate him,” head coach Al Groh said. “He truly is `the best’ in every respect. He is a sensational playmaker yet selfless in every way. We are all proud to go to the field with him every day.”

On the season, Miller has 36 receptions for 475 yards and five touchdowns. The All-American leads the team in receiving and has scored 20 career touchdowns, most by a tight end in ACC history. Miller is a sure-handed receiver who gets a lot of attention for his pass catching ability, but he’s also an outstanding blocker who enjoys it. Off the field, he studies towards a degree in sociology and has been an active participant in the football team’s visits to the Children’s Medical Center at the University of Virginia.

Miller is Virginia’s first major award winner since Bill Dudley won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s outstanding collegiate football player in 1941.

The John Mackey Award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey. The official presentation of the award takes place on April 11, 2005 at the annual NCSC Awards Dinner. For additional information, contact Bryan Revello via phone, 516-365-9625 or via email, revello@nassausports.org.

All-Time Mackey Award Winners
First presented in 200 to honor the nation’s top collegiate tight end by the Nassau County (N.Y.) Sports Commission.

	Player		School2000	Tim Stratton	Purdue2001	Dan Graham	Colorado2002	Dallas Clark	Iowa2003	Kellen Winslow	Miami (Fla.)2004	Heath Miller	Virginia