Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Lacy Named to Jet Award Midseason Watch List
October 22, 2025 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Caullin Lacy of the University of Louisville football team, was named to the midseason watchlist for the Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.
Celebrating its 15th year, the Jet Award continues to honor the electrifying talents of players who excel on punt and kickoff returns.
Lacy enters Saturday's game Boston College as the nation's third-ranked punt returner with an average of 21.1 yards a return through the first six games of the 2025 season. He also stands 28th in kickoff returns with an average of 21.4 yards a return.
The senior from Mobile, Ala., became the first player in program history to have two punt returns of at least 75 yards in a season. He returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky and had a 75-yarder in a win over Bowling Green.
Lacy is the fourth Louisville player to return two punts for touchdowns in a season and the first since Billy Perrin in 1978.
The award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 10th, 2025. Last year's recipient, Kaden Wetjen from Iowa, epitomized the skill and impact recognized by the Jet Award.
The midseason watchlist features standout players from across the nation who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in the return game. The winner of the 2025 Jet Award will be selected by a distinguished panel of voters including media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), former winners of the Jet Award, and two of the esteemed founders Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
"These return specialists have the rare ability to flip the field and change the momentum of a game in a single play. The 2025 midseason watchlist highlights the best of the best — athletes who bring electricity every time they touch the ball." Johnny Rodgers, 1972 Heisman Trophy Winner & Co-Founder of the Jet Award
For more information about the Jet Award and the upcoming gala visit Thejetaward.com.
The complete 18-man Jet Award midseason watchlist follows:
Vinny Anthony II, WR, Sr, Wisconsin (5th in KOR Avg, KOR TD)
Jacory Barney, WR, Soph, Nebraska (Leading the B1G in punt returns, 3rd FBS)
Hank Beatty, WR, Sr, Illinois (5th in the nation in punt return Avg)
Solomon Beebe, RB, Soph, UAB (1st in nation in kick return yards, KOR TD)
Da'Realyst Clark, WR, Jr, Kent State (3rd in KOR Avg, 2 KOR TDs)
Jonathan Brady, WR, Sr, Indiana (7th in the nation in punt return avg, PR TD)
KC Concepcion, WR, Jr, Texas A&M (Top 10 punt return avg, PR TD)
Jacob De Jesus, WR, Sr, Cal (11th in combined kick return yards)
Caullin Lacy, WR, Sr, Louisville (2nd in combined kick return yards, 2 PR TDs)
Ryan Niblett, WR, Soph, Texas (3rd in Punt Return avg, PR TD)
Bryce Noernberg, WR, Freshman, Kansas State (8th in KOR yards, KOR TD)
Cameron Pettaway, RB, Soph, Bowling Green (2nd in KOR Avg & 6th in Yards)
Rayshawn Pleasant, DB, Jr, Auburn (4th in kickoff return avg, KOR TD)
Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame, (1st in Kickoff Return Avg, 2 KOR TDs)
Cam Ross, WR, Sr, Virginia (Top 15 combine kick return yards, KOR TD)
Isaiah Sategna, WR, Jr, Oklahoma (7th in nation in punt return yards)
Vicari Swain, WR, Soph, South Carolina (Three punt return Tds)
Kaden Wetjen, WR, Sr, Iowa (Leads in combined kick return yards & PR Avg)
About the Jet Award Foundation: The Jet Award Foundation raises money to provide scholarships to students majoring in the trades at Metro Community College and Iowa Western Community College. Since 2017 more than 500 students have been awarded aid.
The Jet Award Foundation was established to recognize outstanding return specialists in college football. Named after Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, the award honors athletes who demonstrate exceptional skill and impact in the return game and the achievements of these athletes that inspire the next generation of football players to strive for excellence in all aspects of the game.
Celebrating its 15th year, the Jet Award continues to honor the electrifying talents of players who excel on punt and kickoff returns.
Lacy enters Saturday's game Boston College as the nation's third-ranked punt returner with an average of 21.1 yards a return through the first six games of the 2025 season. He also stands 28th in kickoff returns with an average of 21.4 yards a return.
The senior from Mobile, Ala., became the first player in program history to have two punt returns of at least 75 yards in a season. He returned a punt 93 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky and had a 75-yarder in a win over Bowling Green.
Lacy is the fourth Louisville player to return two punts for touchdowns in a season and the first since Billy Perrin in 1978.
The award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 10th, 2025. Last year's recipient, Kaden Wetjen from Iowa, epitomized the skill and impact recognized by the Jet Award.
The midseason watchlist features standout players from across the nation who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in the return game. The winner of the 2025 Jet Award will be selected by a distinguished panel of voters including media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), former winners of the Jet Award, and two of the esteemed founders Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
"These return specialists have the rare ability to flip the field and change the momentum of a game in a single play. The 2025 midseason watchlist highlights the best of the best — athletes who bring electricity every time they touch the ball." Johnny Rodgers, 1972 Heisman Trophy Winner & Co-Founder of the Jet Award
For more information about the Jet Award and the upcoming gala visit Thejetaward.com.
The complete 18-man Jet Award midseason watchlist follows:
Vinny Anthony II, WR, Sr, Wisconsin (5th in KOR Avg, KOR TD)
Jacory Barney, WR, Soph, Nebraska (Leading the B1G in punt returns, 3rd FBS)
Hank Beatty, WR, Sr, Illinois (5th in the nation in punt return Avg)
Solomon Beebe, RB, Soph, UAB (1st in nation in kick return yards, KOR TD)
Da'Realyst Clark, WR, Jr, Kent State (3rd in KOR Avg, 2 KOR TDs)
Jonathan Brady, WR, Sr, Indiana (7th in the nation in punt return avg, PR TD)
KC Concepcion, WR, Jr, Texas A&M (Top 10 punt return avg, PR TD)
Jacob De Jesus, WR, Sr, Cal (11th in combined kick return yards)
Caullin Lacy, WR, Sr, Louisville (2nd in combined kick return yards, 2 PR TDs)
Ryan Niblett, WR, Soph, Texas (3rd in Punt Return avg, PR TD)
Bryce Noernberg, WR, Freshman, Kansas State (8th in KOR yards, KOR TD)
Cameron Pettaway, RB, Soph, Bowling Green (2nd in KOR Avg & 6th in Yards)
Rayshawn Pleasant, DB, Jr, Auburn (4th in kickoff return avg, KOR TD)
Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame, (1st in Kickoff Return Avg, 2 KOR TDs)
Cam Ross, WR, Sr, Virginia (Top 15 combine kick return yards, KOR TD)
Isaiah Sategna, WR, Jr, Oklahoma (7th in nation in punt return yards)
Vicari Swain, WR, Soph, South Carolina (Three punt return Tds)
Kaden Wetjen, WR, Sr, Iowa (Leads in combined kick return yards & PR Avg)
About the Jet Award Foundation: The Jet Award Foundation raises money to provide scholarships to students majoring in the trades at Metro Community College and Iowa Western Community College. Since 2017 more than 500 students have been awarded aid.
The Jet Award Foundation was established to recognize outstanding return specialists in college football. Named after Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, the award honors athletes who demonstrate exceptional skill and impact in the return game and the achievements of these athletes that inspire the next generation of football players to strive for excellence in all aspects of the game.
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