Football’s Rayshawn Pleasant Named to the Mid-Season Jet Award Watch List

Rayshawn Pleasant - JetAward_Midseason_Candidate

Football’s Rayshawn Pleasant Named to the Mid-Season Jet Award Watch List

Oct 14, 2024 | Football

Omaha, Nebraska – Tulane sophomore kick returner Rayshawn Pleasant has been named as a mid-season candidate for the 14th Annual Jet Award, the organization announced recently.

The Jet Award honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football and recognizes players that excel on punt and kickoff returns. 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 10, 2025. Fromer recipients include, Christian McCaffery, Tyler Lockett, Zachariah Branch and Marcus Jones.

Pleasant is the national leader with a pair of kickoff return touchdowns this season. He also leads the country in kickoff return average at 44.7 per return.

The mid-season watch list features standout players from across the nation who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in the return game so far in 2024. The winner of the 2024 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 founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.

"Being named to the Jet Award mid-season watchlist is an incredible honor for these athletes. It reflects not just their hard work, but the support of their teammates and coaches. I'm excited to watch these athletes keep pushing and representing their team on the national stage!" said Johnny Rodgers, co-founder of the Jet Award Foundation.

For more information about the Jet Award and the 2025 Gala visit Thejetaward.com. or our App.
Apple - https://apps.apple.com/app/the-jet-award/id6497651759
Google - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jetawardfoundation.app

The 15-man Jet Award Mid-Season Watch List
- Jamaal Bell, WR, Senior, Baylor; 8 kickoff returns for 236 yards and TD
- Josh Cameron, WR, Junior, Baylor; 9 punt returns for 174 yards, 19.3 avg
- Chimere Dike, WR, Senior, Florida; 8 punt returns for 157 yards, 19.6 avg
- Malcolm Gillie, WR, Senior, Ball State; 8 kickoff returns for 268 yards, 33.5 avg, TD
- Bryson Hammer, WR, Freshman, Toledo; 11 punt returns for 200 yards, 18.2 avg
- Martel Hight, DB, Soph, Vandy; 9 punt returns for 168 yards, 18.7 avg & TD
- Tylan Hines, RB, Soph, Hawaii; 3rd in combined return yards (344 yards, 16.3 avg)
- Kenny Johnson, WR, Soph, Pittsburgh; 2nd in combined return yards (367 yards)
- Drae McCray, WR, Senior, Texas Tech; Nation's leader Kickoff return avg (34.9)
- Justin Pegues, RB, Junior, Bowling Green; 9 kickoff returns for 263 yards, 29.2 avg, TD
- Rayshawn Pleasant, DB, Soph, Tulane; 6 kickoff returns for 268 yards and 2 TDs
- Jamaal Pritchett, WR, Senior, South Alabama; Leading punt return avg (24.5)
- JP Richardson, WR, Senior, TCU; 12 punt returns for 179 yards, 14.9 avg, TD
- Kaden Wetjen, WR, Senior, Iowa; Nation's combined return yardage leader (371 yards)
- Winston Wright Jr, WR, Senior, East Carolina; Kickoff return yardage leader 355 yards, 32.3 avg, TD

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 300 scholarships have been awarded.

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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Tulane has started the 2024 season with a 4-2 record and 2-0 mark in the AAC. The Green Wave earned a road 71-20 conference victory over UAB on Oct. 5. Makhi Hughes led the team with 119 yards rushing while averaging 7.9 yards per carry and totaling two touchdowns on the ground. Jamauri McClure picked up 84 yards rushing and his first collegiate touchdown. Arnold Barnes III ran for 82 yards and a pair of score. Darian Mensah was efficient in going 12-for-15 for 134 yards and a touchdown. Ty Thompson was 2-for-3 for 46 yards plus had both a passing and rushing touchdown. Yulkeith Brown total 60 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. The team also got a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown from Rayshawn Pleasant and a 29-yard interception touchdown return from Chris Rodgers. The 71 points scored by Tulane was the most points for the program since putting up 72 against Louisiana during the 1998 season. The 51-point margin of victory over UAB was the largest for Green Wave in a conference game since shutting out then fellow Southeastern Conference member Sewanee by a 52-0 score in 1939. Both losses for Tulane this season have come to teams that were ranked in Associated Press Top 25 including a 34-27 home defeat to then No. 17 Kansas State on Sept. 7 and a 34-19 road loss to then No. 15 Oklahoma on Sept. 14.
Tulane leads the AAC and is tied for the national lead in defensive touchdowns with four. The program is placed third in passing efficiency in the conference with a 174.51. The Green Wave also lead the conference and ranks fourth nationally in kick return average at 30.07. The team has already been honored by the league office seven times this season with Rayshawn Pleasant being named the Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 2 and the Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 6, Darian Mensah taking home Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Sept. 9 and Sept. 30, Tyler Grubbs earning Weekly Honor Roll recognition on Sept. 16, Makhi Hughes picking up Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Sept. 23 and Gerrod Henderson earning Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 30.

Tulane's football team was chosen for third in the AAC Preseason Media Poll with 362 points plus two first-place votes at the annual conference media day.

This season, Tulane brings back three of the team's five starters on the offensive line (Shadre Hurst, Josh Remetich, Rashad Green), the leading rusher in the conference (Makhi Hughes), two of the team's top four receivers (Alex Bauman, Yulkeith Brown), the team's punter (Will Karoll) and long snapper (Ethan Hudak), the team's top three tacklers (Jesus Machado, Tyler Grubbs and Bailey Despanie) and three of the six leading defensive players in tackles for loss (Patrick Jenkins, Tyler Grubbs and Kameron Hamilton).

Tulane finished the 2023 season with a mark of 11-3 and a perfect 8-0 record in the American Athletic Conference. The program concluded the campaign with the 16th bowl appearance at the GoBowling Military Bowl contest against Virginia Tech. It was the fifth time in the last six years that Tulane has appeared in a bowl game. The team is 27-7 over the last three seasons.

The school announced the hiring of Jon Sumrall as the 42nd head coach of the team on December 8, 2023. The Huntsville, Alabama native was one of the most successful head coaches in the country the last two seasons. He guided Troy University to a 23-4 record, two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks. He was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year and was twice named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year honor. Sumrall returns to Tulane after serving as the Green Wave's Co-Defensive Coordinator for three years (2012-14). In 2013, he was a crucial part of Tulane's run to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first postseason appearance since 2002 and third since 1988. Sumrall also was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year.

Next, Tulane's football team hosts Rice University on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Yulman Stadium at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The team's remaining schedule includes home games against Temple (Nov. 9) and Memphis (Nov. 28). The team's 2024 road games includes trips to North Texas (October 26), Charlotte (October 31) and Navy (November 16).

TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and the upcoming men's and women's basketball seasons can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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Tulane University is located in the city of New Orleans. It is a city built on tradition and resiliency. The lessons Green Wave student-athletes have learned through their connection with this university and city have BUILT doctors, lawyers, business leaders, conference champions, all-conference players, All-Americans, professional athletes and NCAA tournament teams. The city of New Orleans has shaped us into who we are today. We are One City. We are Tulane. We are NOLA BUILT. Check out our story at NolaBuilt.com.

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