Hill named to list

Darius Hill (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs H.S.), a junior member of the 2007 Ball State University football team, is one of 32 players named to the John Mackey Award Watch List for this season.

The Mackey Award is given annually to the best collegiate tight end in the nation and is selected by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and announced in mid-December. National Football League Hall of Famer John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. Hill, who received honorable mention on the 2006 All-Mid-American Conference Team, played in all 12 games last season and tied the Ball State single-season record with 10 touchdown receptions. Hill was recognized by Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel as the "Best Player You Have Never Heard Of", and Hill received honorable mention on the SI.com team last season. Hill managed 42 catches for 741 yards. He had four games of 100 plus receiving yards, and had a career high 119 receiving yards at Purdue.