University of North Carolina Athletics
Thorpe Named To Jet Award Watch List
August 17, 2012 | Football
Omaha, Neb. - The 2012 Jet Award watch list includes two of last year's finalist, TJ Thorpe of North Carolina and Dustin Harris of Texas A&M. Athletes on the watch list represent nine different conferences, with the Big Ten leading the way with five.
Thorpe received honorable-mention All-ACC honors a year ago after leading the league with a 26.7 kickoff return average. He finished the season with 36 returns for a school-record 960 yards.
The Jet Award honors the best return specialist in college football. Drawing its name from former Heisman trophy winner Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers, the Jet award will be voted on by a selection committee, featuring football writers and broadcasters from around the country, as well as Johnny Rodgers and Joe Adams, the 2011 winner of the Jet Award.
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.
From the initial watch list, a list of 12 semifinalists will be announced at the end of October and the list will be whittled down to four finalists in November. The winner will be chosen by a vote of the selection committee and the 2012 winner will be announced before the award presentation in December.
Veteran college football return specialists will be honored with legend awards each year as well, with the first winners coming from 1960 thru 1969. This year's veteran recipient will be announced in September.
The 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.
2012 The Jet Award Watch List
Player Year School
Jared Abbrederis Jr. Wisconsin
Ameer Abdullah So. Nebraska
Ralph David Abernathy IV So. Cincinnati
Justin Albert Sr.
Troy
Tavon Austin Sr. West Virginia
George Atkinson III So. Notre
Dame
DJ Beshears Jr.
Kansas
Matt Brown Sr.
Temple
Andre Booker Sr.
Marshall
Mitch Burroughs Sr.
Boise State
Isaiah Burse Jr.
Fresno State
Jeremy Deering Jr.
Rutgers
John Evans So.
Western Kentucky
JD Falslev
Jr BYU
Jerry “Boo Boo” Gates Jr. Bowling
Green
Justin Gilbert So.
Oklahoma State
Jordan Hall Sr.
Ohio State
Rannell Hall So. Central
Florida
Dustin Harris Sr.
Texas A&M
Tracy Lampley Sr.
Southern Miss
Tommylee Lewis So.
Northern Illinois
Venric Mark Jr Northwestern
Jamal Miles Sr
Arizona State
Raheem Mostert So.
Purdue
Darryl Surgent So.
Louisiana-Lafayette
De'Anthony Thomas So. Oregon
TJ Thorpe So. North Carolina
Justin Veltung Sr.
Idaho
Robert Woods Jr.
USC
