After stellar special teams play so far this season, Iowa football second-year receiver and kick returner Evan James has been named to the Jet Award Midseason List, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.
James ranks 15th nationally in punt return yardage, averaging 14.7 yards on 12 returns, including a career-long 77-yard return for his first Hawkeye touchdown in a 40-0 shutout win against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5.
James is one of 36 players nationally to return at least one punt for a touchdown in 2026. James' 77-yard touchdown return is tied for the seventh-longest nationally this season.
Evan James ➡️ Jet Award Midseason List 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DwfU1mQGqd
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) October 14, 2026
Iowa fans have become familiar with the Jet Award
over the past few years, with former Hawkeye Kaden Wetjen winning it in both 2024 and 2025.
The award honors Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers. A panel of voters, including media members from the Football Writers Association of America, former Jet Award recipients, and founders Johnny Rodgers and William Reed will select the 2026 Jet Award winner at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Iowa (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) returns to action at Minnesota (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) for the annual battle for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football WR Evan James named to Jet Award Midseason List
