Chimere Dike named to Jet Award mid-season watchlist
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators wide receiver and punt returner Chimere Dike has been named to the Jet Award Mid-Season Watchlist, the Jet Award Award Foundation announced on Tuesday. The 14th Annual Jet Award will honor the most outstanding return specialist in college football.
In his first season with the Gators, Dike has returned eight punts for 157 yards through Florida’s first six contests. His 19.6-yard average return is second in the nation and first in the SEC among players with multiple punt return attempts.
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Against No. 8 Tennessee on October 12, he had back-to-back punt returns of 27 and 30 yards, which helped set up a game-tying 27-yard TD pass with 34 seconds left — that Dike himself caught. His 35-yard return against Mississippi State tied his career-long and set up a two-play, 44-yard TD drive.
The Jet Award
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. Former recipients include Christian McCaffrey, Tyler Lockett, Zachariah Branch and Marcus Jones. 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.
Past Jet Award Winners
| Name | Team | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zachariah Branch | USC | WR | 2023 |
| Derius Davis | TSU | WR | 2022 |
| Marcus Jones | Houston | CB | 2021 |
| Avery Williams | Boise State | RB | 2020 |
| Joe Reed | Virginia | WR | 2019 |
| Savon Scarver | Utah State | WR | 2018 |
| Dante Pettis | Washington | WR | 2017 |
| Adoree’ Jackson | USC | CB | 2016 |
| Christian McCaffrey | Stanford | RB | 2015 |
| Tyler Lockett | Kansas | WR | 2014 |
| Ty Montgomery | Stanford | WR | 2013 |
| Tavon Austin | West Virginia | WR | 2012 |
| Joe Adams | Arkansas | WR | 2011 |
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) hauls in a pass while taking balls from a throwing machine during University of Florida Gators’ Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 28, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/08/01212103/Untitled-design-80.png)
