2020 Preseason Award Projections: Jet Award

By Charlie Campbell
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Heading into the 2020 college football season WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises and the stars of next fall could be the headlining players next April in the 2021 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.

The Jet Award is given to the best returner in college football. Last year’s winner was Virginia’s Joe Reed.

Jet Award Winner:

Hassan Hall, Louisville

Hall was a nice weapon for Louisville in 2019, as he averaged averaged 30.5 yards per kick return with a touchdown after having a solid freshman year in 2018. As a sophomore, Hall also rotated into the ground game and averaged 4.6 yard per carry for 501 yards and five touchdowns. Hall has the upside to produce more on offense as an upperclassman while also continuing to be a leader on special teams. He is a top candidate to win the Jet Award in 2020.




Jet Award Runner-Up:

Damond Philyaw-Johnson, Duke

Philyaw-Johnson could easily have won the Jet Award in 2019 from being a phenomenal kick returner for Duke. He averaged 32.3 yards per kick return and scored twice for the Blue Devils. After being such a dangerous threat on special teams, Philyaw-Johnson should get more opportunities to make plays this fall. I think Philyaw-Johnson could be a dynamic returner again this fall, and he could end up winning the Jet Award in 2020.




Jet Award Dark Horse:

Savon Scarver, Utah State

Scarver was a phenomenal returner in 2018 and won the Jet Award, averaging a ridiculous 33.7 yards per kick return. He had two kicks returned for touchdowns and consistently put his team in good field position with long kickoffs. I thought Scarver would have a hard time winning the Jet Award in 2019 again as teams would be kicking away from him, but the talented kick returner still averaged 28 yards per kick return. He could be a dark horse to win it again in 2020.

Honorable Mentions: Houston WR Marquez Stevenson, Stanford WR Connor Wedington, Iowa WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Liberty WR Shedro Louis, Old Dominion RB Blake Watson, Michigan WR Giles Jackson, Akron WR Michael Mathison and Texas Tech RB Ta’Zhawn Henry.











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