OMAHA, Neb. -- NFL Players, Heisman winners, and Husker greats were in Omaha Thursday night as College Football's Best Return Specialist was crowned.
TCU's Darius Davis was presented with the 12th Annual Jet Award, a national award named after Husker Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers, in front of hundreds of former players coaches and local leaders at Baxter Arena. Longitudinal Finned Tubes
NU Athletic Director was in attendance, along with Husker Coach Matt Rhule, and he shared his thoughts on the special night.
"This is Nebraska in a nutshell," said Trev Alberts, NU Athletic Director. "This is what makes Nebraska so special. It's kind of interesting, this is what I told Coach Rhule this is like. And so, it's great to have him be here to see how our community rallies together. To be able to honor Johnny Rodgers, all he's done, and then to honor some terrific - I thought Kellen Winslow's, you know, presentation was spot on. Just a beautiful evening and a great fundraiser to impact our state and north Omaha."
The night also celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Johnny Rodger's iconic punt return against Oklahoma in the game of the century back in 1971.
Nebraska's Eric Crouch spoke about the significance of the occasion.
"The 50th Anniversary is a special, special thing," said Crouch, 2001 Heisman winner. "I'm happy to be able to know him and spend time with him, and really be mentioned in the same breathe as him. I mean he paved the way for a lot of football players in Nebraska. Not just Nebraska but around the United States, that look up to a player like him."
Finned Tube Radiators The Jet Award has been recognizing College Football's Best Return Specialist every year since 2011. Notable winners currently in the NFL include Cristian McCaffrey and Tyler Lockett.