Kansas tight end Jimmay Mundine is congratulated by running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and teammates Ben Johnson (84) and Ed Fink (45) after his touchdown against TCU during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 at Memorial Stadium.

Fresh off of a career game in which he caught seven balls for 137 yards and a touchdown, Kansas University senior tight end Jimmay Mundine learned he had cracked the list of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s best tight end.

Mundine is the first KU player to be named a semifinalist for the award since its inception in 2000.

Mundine’s 137-yard receiving performance was the most for a Kansas tight end since 1974.

The KU senior leads all Big 12 Conference tight ends and ranks fourth nationally among the position group with his 537 receiving yards on 40 catches. He is averaging 13.4 yards per catch in 2014 and has scored three touchdowns. His 537 receiving yards are the most by a tight end from a ‘Power 5’ conference and his 40 receptions ranks second among tight ends from a ‘Power 5’ conference.

Mundine’s play has been a huge spark for the Kansas offense, which has shown dramatic improvement during the past several weeks after another slow start. Thirty of his 40 receptions have resulted in first downs or touchdowns.

Joining Mundine as a semifinalist for the award are E.J. Bibbs (SR, Iowa State), Evan Engram (SO, Ole Miss), Ben Koyack (SR, Notre Dame), Nick O’Leary (SR, Florida State), Jean Sifrin (JR, Massachusetts), Clive Walford (SR, Miami) and Maxx Williams (SO, Minnesota). This list will be whittled down to a group of finalists on Nov. 24 and the winner will be revealed Dec. 10.