(Business Wire)  The Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award, aka The Jet Award, has selected Tyler Lockett of Kansas State University as its 2014 recipient. J.J. Nelson of the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the 2014 Jet Award Most Valuable Kick Returner and De’Mornay Pierson-El of the University of Nebraska the 2014 Jet Award Most Valuable Punt Returner.

The Jet Award was established in 2011 to honor the best return specialist in NCAA Division I college football and is named for Rodgers, a wide receiver and return specialist for the University of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1972 and is a member of the National College Football Hall of Fame. To be considered for the award, players must be a primary kick or punt returner for their team and be among the national leaders in return categories. They must also show leadership, courage, desire, and respect for authority and discipline.

A selection committee consisting of Rodgers and football writers and broadcasters from around the country selected the 2014 winners. Previous winners are Ty Montgomery of Stanford University (2013), Tavon Austin of West Virginia University (2012) and inaugural winner Joe Adams of the University of Arkansas (2011).

An awards ceremony for the 2014 Jet Award will take place April 2 in Omaha, Rodgers’ hometown. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin of The Ohio State University will be the keynote speaker. The event is a benefit for The Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarship at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha.

Each year at the awards ceremony, the Jet Award also honors players from past years who were the best return specialists of their day. The 2014 distinguished Legacy Award winner is Paul Allen, who played for Brigham Young University and is being honored for the 1961 season. Seventeen-year NFL veteran Pat Fischer (University of Nebraska) received the 2013 Legacy Award for the 1960 season, while 1959 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon (Louisiana State University) was honored in 2012 for the 1959 season.

Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award
We Love Great Returns! is the tagline of the Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award, aka The Jet Award. The Jet Award was established in 2011 to honor college football’s best return specialist. It was named for 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, who College Football News said is “the greatest kick returner in college football history.” For more information about the Jet Award, awards ceremony and the Johnny Rodgers Career and Technical Education Scholarship it funds, go to www.thejetaward.com or call 402-245-0088.