Courtesy of UNLV
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Jacob De Jesus, a finalist for the Jet Award last fall, was one of 16 players included on the 14th annual Jet Award Watch List, which was released Wednesday.
The award goes to the nation’s top kick returner and is named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers. De Jesus is the first UNLV player to appear on the Jet preseason list.
The award will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 10, 2025. The winner of the 2024 Jet Award will be selected by a panel of voters that includes media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and former winners of the Jet Award along with two of the founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
Earlier this month, De Jesus (Manteca, CA) was named the 2024 Preseason Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and First Team All-MW at both kick returner and punt returner. A 2023 First Team all-league pick at both return spots, De Jesus led the nation in total return yards with 1,079. The only player to rank in the top 15 nationally in both kick returns and punt returns was a finalist for the Jet Award and named Second Team All-America by USA TODAY. The wide receiver, who also caught 60 passes as a junior, has been tabbed a 2024 Preseason Second Team All-American by Phil Steele and Third Team by Athlon Sports. He was just the second Rebel to earn preseason player of the year on special teams, joining kicker Sergio Aguayo in 2006.
Under the direction of 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year Barry Odom, De Jesus and the Rebels will kick off their 57th season of football on August 31 by heading to Big 12 Conference member Houston at 4 p.m. PT on FS1 in the first of a school-record 11 national TV games. The home opener comes one week later when Utah Tech comes to Allegiant Stadium for a noon kickoff on September 7.
Season tickets, three-game mini-plans and single-game tickets for the six-game 2024 home schedule are available now by visiting unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). For information on VIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Premium Sales office at premiumseating@unlv.edu or by calling (702) 895-0292.
2024 JET AWARD WATCH LIST
Jacory Barney, WR, Freshman, Nebraska
Zachariah Branch, WR, Soph, USC
Barion Brown, WR, Junior, Kentucky
Jacob De Jesus, WR, Senior, UNLV
Matthew Golden, WR, Junior, Texas
Jayden Harrison, WR, Senior, Notre Dame
Tucker Holloway, WR, Junior, Va Tech
Lexington “Flex” Joseph, RB, Senior, FIU
Drae McCray, WR, Senior, Texas Tech
Mekhi Mews, WR, Junior, Houston
Richard Reese, RB, Junior, Baylor
Isaiah Sategna, WR, Soph, Arkansas
Brashard Smith, RB, Senior, SMU
Milan Tucker, WR, Senior, Florida Atlantic
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Junior, Va Tech
Dee Williams, DB, Senior, Tennessee
