OMAHA, Neb. — BYU return specialist and wide receiver Parker Kingston is one of just 16 student-athletes named to the Jet Award preseason watchlist for the 2025 football season.
Named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, the award annually honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.
Kingston, a 5-11, 185-pound junior from Layton, Utah, was previously named 2025 preseason All-American as a punt returner by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He was also honored in July as a repeat selection to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, having also made the list in 2024.
During his sophomore campaign in 2024, Kingston returned 16 punts for 236 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, he had 196 yards on 13 catches with one touchdown and threw for another score on a trick play. Kingston is just the third player in Big 12 history to have multiple career games with a passing and receiving touchdown. He was also named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week last year following a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in BYU's 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State on Sept. 21.
Following the 2024 season, Kingston was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team as a punt returner, having returned four punts for 105 yards against Colorado, including a 64-yard touchdown that gave BYU a 17-0 lead.
Now in its 15th year, the Jet Award continues to celebrate the talents of players who excel on punt and kickoff returns. The winner of the 2025 Jet Award will be selected by a panel of voters including members of the Football Writers Association of America, former winners of the Jet Award and two of the founders Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
Former BYU kick returner Keelan Marion was one of three finalists for the Jet Award in 2024 and is also on the preseason watchlist for the 2025 season.
The Jet Award Foundation raises money to provide scholarships to students majoring in the trades at Metro Community College and Iowa Western Community College. Since 2017 more than 500 students have received aid.