James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
11/12/2026 12:42:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison wide receiver Michael Scott has been named a finalist for the Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football, the Jet Award Foundation announced on Wednesday.
Â
Scott is one of five finalists for the award, joining San Diego State's Jaylon Hawkins, Florida Atlantic's Easton Messer, South Carolina's Vicari Swain and Minnesota's Javon Tracy. The finalists were chosen by the award's media panel.
Â
Scott leads the nation in combined return yardage, with 794. He is averaging 36.2 yards on kick returns, good for No. 1 in the nation and is No. 6 nationally on punt returns (15.9). Additionally, the York, Pennsylvania, native is one of five players in the nation with two punt returns for touchdowns this season.
Â
Offensively, Scott has caught 29 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns.
Â
This season, Scott was named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 14, as well as a Midseason All-American by The Sporting News (and several other outlets) on Oct. 21. With the honor, he becomes JMU's first Jet Award finalist in program history.
Â
The Jet Award, now in its 16th year, is named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers. It will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 8, 2027, with this year's winner.
Â
Â
Scott is one of five finalists for the award, joining San Diego State's Jaylon Hawkins, Florida Atlantic's Easton Messer, South Carolina's Vicari Swain and Minnesota's Javon Tracy. The finalists were chosen by the award's media panel.
Â
Scott leads the nation in combined return yardage, with 794. He is averaging 36.2 yards on kick returns, good for No. 1 in the nation and is No. 6 nationally on punt returns (15.9). Additionally, the York, Pennsylvania, native is one of five players in the nation with two punt returns for touchdowns this season.
Â
Offensively, Scott has caught 29 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns.
Â
This season, Scott was named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 14, as well as a Midseason All-American by The Sporting News (and several other outlets) on Oct. 21. With the honor, he becomes JMU's first Jet Award finalist in program history.
Â
The Jet Award, now in its 16th year, is named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers. It will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 8, 2027, with this year's winner.
Â
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballWednesday, November 11
Wednesday, November 11
Monday, November 09
Monday, November 09
