University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics

Photo by: Marie Goldfarb
Matavao Tabbed to John Mackey Award Watch List
August 09, 2024 | Football
NEW YORK, N.Y. โ Senior Moliki Matavao on the UCLA football team was one of 48 student-athletes to be named to the 2024 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List, it was announced Friday by The Friends of John Mackey. The award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end as voted on by the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
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Matavao earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors in his first season at UCLA in 2023, appearing in all 13 games and making six starts. He totaled 283 receiving yards on 14 receptions (20.2 yards per catch), including two touchdowns. Matavao's highest receiving yard total of last season came in a 25-17 victory over Washington State at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 7, totaling 76 yards on just three catches. The 6-foot-6-inch tight end pulled down two touchdown grabs in back-to-back games against Stanford (Oct. 21) and Colorado (Oct. 28).
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Prior to UCLA, Matavao appeared in 26 games and made eight starts for the Oregon Ducks in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He totaled 209 receiving yards on 19 catches in his two-year Oregon career.
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The John Mackey Award Selection Committee will announce eight semifinalists on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 12 on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards.
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The Bruins' 2024 season will begin Saturday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. (PT), as UCLA travels to Honolulu to face Hawai'i. The contest will be televised on CBS. UCLA's home opener at The Rose Bowl features its first-ever Big Ten Conference matchup versus Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
TICKETS
Various ticket packages, including season, mini-plan and single-game tickets, for the Bruins' inaugural Big Ten season are now available. Fans can clickย HEREย or contact UCLA Athletics Sales and Service at (310) 206-5991 or via emailย at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information on personalized ticket options.
Sign up for UCLA Athletics emailsย HEREย to stay up-to-date on inside information, ticket deals and more.
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Matavao earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors in his first season at UCLA in 2023, appearing in all 13 games and making six starts. He totaled 283 receiving yards on 14 receptions (20.2 yards per catch), including two touchdowns. Matavao's highest receiving yard total of last season came in a 25-17 victory over Washington State at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 7, totaling 76 yards on just three catches. The 6-foot-6-inch tight end pulled down two touchdown grabs in back-to-back games against Stanford (Oct. 21) and Colorado (Oct. 28).
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Prior to UCLA, Matavao appeared in 26 games and made eight starts for the Oregon Ducks in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He totaled 209 receiving yards on 19 catches in his two-year Oregon career.
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The John Mackey Award Selection Committee will announce eight semifinalists on Tuesday, Oct. 29 and three finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 12 on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards.
ย
The Bruins' 2024 season will begin Saturday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. (PT), as UCLA travels to Honolulu to face Hawai'i. The contest will be televised on CBS. UCLA's home opener at The Rose Bowl features its first-ever Big Ten Conference matchup versus Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m.
TICKETS
Various ticket packages, including season, mini-plan and single-game tickets, for the Bruins' inaugural Big Ten season are now available. Fans can clickย HEREย or contact UCLA Athletics Sales and Service at (310) 206-5991 or via emailย at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information on personalized ticket options.
Sign up for UCLA Athletics emailsย HEREย to stay up-to-date on inside information, ticket deals and more.
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Players Mentioned
UCLA Football Press Conference - Cole Martin and Kenneth Moore III, Post-Spring Game (May 2, 2026)
Saturday, May 02
UCLA Football Press Conference - Coach Chesney, Post-Spring Game (May 2, 2026)
Saturday, May 02
UCLA Football Press Conference - Nico Iamaleava, Post-Spring Game (May 2, 2026)
Saturday, May 02
UCLA Football Media Availability - DC Colin Hitschler (April 30, 2026)
Thursday, April 30




