Gamecock Return Ace Vicari Swain Named to Prestigious Jet Award Watch List
South Carolina’s dynamic defensive back and punt returner Vicari Swain is gaining national attention for his electric performances this season. On Monday, the redshirt sophomore was officially named to the midseason watch list for the Jet Award, which recognizes college football’s most outstanding return specialist each year.
Swain is one of only 18 players across the country to make the list — and his numbers more than justify the honor. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound standout from Carrollton, Georgia, leads the nation with three punt return touchdowns, all coming in spectacular fashion. He’s the only player in college football this season with three total return scores, pulling off the rare feat of three consecutive punt return touchdowns against Virginia Tech and South Carolina State.
Through the midway point of the season, Swain is averaging an impressive 20.1 yards per return and has recorded a 30-yard return or longer in three separate games. His efforts have already cemented his place in the record books, as he has tied the all-time South Carolina record for single-season punt return touchdowns. With one more, he would match Dickie Harris’ career mark, currently sitting tied with former Gamecock Ace Sanders for second all-time.
Swain’s breakout season has also landed him additional honors. He was recently recognized as a second-team midseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, highlighting his impact on special teams and his consistency as one of the most dangerous players in open space.
From the official South Carolina Athletics release, the school celebrated Swain’s inclusion on the Jet Award list:
“Vicari Swain has been named to the 18-man midseason watch list for the Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football,” the release stated. “Swain leads the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns, tying the school record. He ranks fourth nationally in punt return average at 20.1 yards per return and has the sixth-highest single-season punt return yardage in Carolina history with 281 yards — with five regular-season games still to play.”
The Jet Award, now in its 15th year, was established in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers, who was widely regarded as one of the most electrifying returners in college football history. The 2025 winner will be announced during the Jet Award Gala on April 10, 2025, with the selection made by a distinguished panel including media members from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), past Jet Award winners, and the award’s co-founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.
“These return specialists have the rare ability to flip the field and change the momentum of a game in a single play,” said Johnny Rodgers, the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner. “The 2025 midseason watchlist highlights the best of the best — athletes who bring electricity every time they touch the ball.”
Should Swain go on to win the award, he would make program history as the first South Carolina player ever to capture the Jet Award — an achievement that would further cement his place as one of the Gamecocks’ most dynamic playmakers in recent memory.
Bottom Line:
With his blazing speed, field vision, and knack for game-changing plays, Vicari Swain has become one of college football’s most exciting talents. As South Carolina’s special teams spark plug, he’s not just putting up numbers — he’s redefining what it means to be a Gamecock return specialist.
