In recent weeks, Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett has become a common contributor for the Tigers as they march the ball closer to the goal line. Such was the case in Saturday’s win over Syracuse.

With a chance to score another touchdown against the Orange, quarterback Deshaun Watson found Leggett up the seam. The pass hit the junior tight end in the hands, then he watched it fall to the turf.

“Yeah, I still have bad dreams about it,” Leggett said of his near miss. “I’m just going to try to move on to the next one. I definitely could’ve scored on that one.”

Frustrations aside, Leggett’s viability as a red zone target has become a strength of Clemson’s attack as the season races toward the finish line. His proficiency in terms of catching touchdown passes and becoming a weapon all over the field has earned him a spot as a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top tight end.

“I’m extremely happy,” Leggett said of the honor on Monday. “My family has been calling me all day just to congratulate me.”

For the season, Leggett has 26 receptions for 334 yards and six touchdowns. All three numbers rank inside the top three in the ACC among full-time tight ends, and his six touchdowns lead the pack.

The Florida native’s statistical surge comes at a time when Clemson might be struggling to throw the ball in the red zone. On the team’s first possession of the season, it was Mike Williams who got the call near the goal line. He made the catch but injured his neck in the process and has been out of action ever since.

Questions abounded about who would fill that void, and after three games being forgotten inside the 20, Leggett now has seven red zone targets in the past seven games. That number means more considering Watson has only thrown 25 passes inside the red zone all season, and some passes are officially unclaimed on the stat sheet that could potentially be credited to Leggett.

“When it comes down to the 20-and-in, we’re, like, the biggest matchups,” Leggett said of his tight end group. “It’s definitely good for them to look for me. The past couple of games, I’ve been pretty consistent.”

Leggett ranks among Clemson’s leaders with 39 targets this season. Half of his six touchdown catches have spanned more than 20 yards, a sign that Watson has begun to look his way more often all over the field.

For a junior like Leggett, more exposure could mean more positive reviews from scouts. Currently considered a fringe prospect by most scouting services, Leggett knows he will need to at least take a look and see where he stands—along with several of his teammates—when the season ends in a few weeks.

“It definitely crosses all of our minds,” he said. “Even if you’re just a regular student here at Clemson, it’s coming down to your senior year and you’re just trying to figure out what you’re going to do after you get done.”