NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt football punt returner Martel Hight has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Jet Award, given to the nation’s outstanding return specialist.
The award is named for Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers. Past winners include Stanford’s Christian McCaffery, Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett and Houston’s Marcus Jones.
Hight has averaged 17.33 yards per punt return this season to lead the SEC and rank fourth in the country. He is one of seven players in FBS to have a punt return for a touchdown without a muffed punt.
Against Alcorn State on Sept. 7, he became the first Commodore to return a punt for a touchdown since 2012, and his score remains the only punt return for six points in the SEC this season.
The Jet Award will be selected by a panel of voters including media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), former winners of the award, and the award founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed. The panel will select three finalists before voting for a winner takes place following the national championship game on Jan. 21.
Hight and the Commodores return to action on Nov. 23 at LSU.