University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
11/12/2026 11:24:00 AM | Football
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Javon Tracy has been named one five finalists for the Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football, the Jet Foundation has announced.
Tracy has returned 21 punts for 347 yards and two touchdowns this season, putting him first in the country in the latter two categories and second in total returns. In fact, only Virginia Tech (363) has more punt return yards than Tracy. He also leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the country with his average of 16.52 yards per return.
He's already third in Gopher single-season history in punt return yardage and sits just 58 yards off the school record of 405 set by Marion Barber III in 2003. Tracy's average of 16.5 is 0.4 off the school record of 16.9 set by Paul Giel in 1953, and he's one of three Gophers to have two punt return touchdowns in one season. Tracy is tied for 10th in team history with his 21 return this year.
Even though he's a first-year returner, his yardage is already ninth for a Gopher in their careers, and he's one of five to have two punt return touchdowns in a career.
The season-opening win against Eastern Illinois featured an incredible performance by Tracy. Entering the game with zero career punt returns, he became the first Gopher ever to score two punt return touchdowns in a game. In fact, the only other Gophers with two punt return touchdowns in one season are Jermaine Mays (2002) and Douglas Roalstad (1968). Tracy also set a school record with 167 punt return yards on four returns.
The other finalists, which were chosen by a vote of the Jet Award media panel from a list of 10 semifinalists, include San Diego State's Jaylon Hawkins, Florida Atlantic's Easton Messer, James Madison's Michael Scott and South Carolina's Vicari Swain.
The award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers and in its 16th year of existence, will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 8, 2027.
Tracy has returned 21 punts for 347 yards and two touchdowns this season, putting him first in the country in the latter two categories and second in total returns. In fact, only Virginia Tech (363) has more punt return yards than Tracy. He also leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the country with his average of 16.52 yards per return.
He's already third in Gopher single-season history in punt return yardage and sits just 58 yards off the school record of 405 set by Marion Barber III in 2003. Tracy's average of 16.5 is 0.4 off the school record of 16.9 set by Paul Giel in 1953, and he's one of three Gophers to have two punt return touchdowns in one season. Tracy is tied for 10th in team history with his 21 return this year.
Even though he's a first-year returner, his yardage is already ninth for a Gopher in their careers, and he's one of five to have two punt return touchdowns in a career.
The season-opening win against Eastern Illinois featured an incredible performance by Tracy. Entering the game with zero career punt returns, he became the first Gopher ever to score two punt return touchdowns in a game. In fact, the only other Gophers with two punt return touchdowns in one season are Jermaine Mays (2002) and Douglas Roalstad (1968). Tracy also set a school record with 167 punt return yards on four returns.
The other finalists, which were chosen by a vote of the Jet Award media panel from a list of 10 semifinalists, include San Diego State's Jaylon Hawkins, Florida Atlantic's Easton Messer, James Madison's Michael Scott and South Carolina's Vicari Swain.
The award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers and in its 16th year of existence, will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 8, 2027.
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