Johnson Named to Jet Award Midseason List
OMAHA, Neb. – University of Miami freshman Duke Johnson has been named to the 2012 Jet Award Midseason Watch List. The Jet Award honors the best return specialist in college football.
The 2012 Jet Award Midseason Watch List includes several of the nation’s leading kickoff and punt returners. Johnson is the only freshman and one of two ACC representatives on the 12-player midseason watch list. Johnson ranks 20th nationally and third in the ACC in kickoff returns, amassing 447 yards and a touchdown on 16 kick returns. The Miami, Fla., product has proven to be one of the nation’s best all-purpose runners, leading all freshmen with 1,057 all-purpose yards – good for 19th among FBS players.
Drawing its name from former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers, the Jet Award is voted on by a selection committee featuring football writers and broadcasters from around the country as well as Rodgers and Joe Adams, the 2011 Jet Award winner.
To be considered for the Jet Award, players must be a primary kick or punt returner for his team. They must be among the national leaders in return categories and show leadership, courage, desire, respect for authority and discipline.
The midseason watch list will be trimmed to four finalists in November. The winner will be chosen by selection committee and the 2012 winner will be announced before the award presentation in December.
The Jet Award event will benefit the Johnny Rodgers Youth Foundation’s charitable programs. Currently through his youth foundation, Rodgers has joined the fight to keep kids in school until graduation.
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2012 JET AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Ameer Abdullah, So., Nebraska
Tavon Austin, Sr., West Virginia
Dri Archer, Jr., Kent State
Mike Edwards, Jr., Hawai’i
Rashad Green, So., Florida State
Duke Johnson, Fr., Miami
Tyler Lockett, So., Kansas State
Venric Mark, Jr., Northwestern
Marcus Murphy, Si., Missouri
Coradelle Patterson, Jr., Tennessee
Ace Sanders, Jr., South Carolina
Tre Watts, Jr., Tulsa
