The John Mackey Award selection committee has named Pitt senior tight end J.P. Holtz to the award’s midseason watch list, Pitt announced Wednesday morning.

The Mackey Award is given annually to the best tight end in the nation. Last year’s winner was Nick O’Leary, a former Florida State tight end who now plays for the Buffalo Bills.

Holtz joins 32 other tight ends on the midseason watch list. According to Pitt’s release, the committee described this year’s race as the most “wide open” since the award’s inception in 2001.

Besides being a strong blocker in Pitt’s running game this year, Holtz has been an offensive asset for the Panthers. He’s hauled in nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Holtz, a Shaler Area High School graduate, has played in all 44 games of his Pitt career, starting 40 of them.

The John Mackey Award committee will announce the semifinalists for the award on Nov. 16, and will announce the finalists on Nov. 24.

ESPNU will air the presentation of the winner on Dec. 10, as part of the “Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show.”

Holtz and the Panthers travel to Atlanta for their next game, where they will face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.