Aug. 15, 2012

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State senior football player Jamal Miles was named to the 2012 Jet Award watch list, which honors the best return specialist in college football. The award draws its name from former Heisman trophy winner Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers.

Jamal Miles is a three-year letterman heading into his senior campaign with four career return touchdowns under his belt. Most recently, Miles had two kickoff returns and one punt return for touchdowns in 2011. Since becoming a member of the Sun Devils, he has been in top five all purpose yards.

To be considered for the Jet Award, players must be a primary kick of punt returner for his team. They must be among the national leaders in return categories and show leadership, courage, desire and respect for authority and discipline.

In his career, Miles has returned 64 kickoffs for 1,517 yards giving him an average of 23.7 yards per return and three touchdowns. He currently ties former Sun Devil and current football management intern Rudy Burgess for the most career kickoff return yards in school history.

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. 

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.

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 "Booboo" 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
Jayron Hosley, Sr., Virginia Tech
Tracy Lampley, Sr., Southern Miss
Tommylee Lewis, So., Northern Illinois
Venric Mark, Jr., Northwestern 
Ben McRoy, Jr., Texas Tech
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