Over two months after leaving West Virginia for the NFL, the awards are still trickling in for Tavon Austin.
Austin, it was announced Monday, has been named the winner of the 2012 Johnny Rodgers Award. The award is given to the nation’s top return specialist, and Austin certainly fits that description.
Last season, Austin averaged 25.4 yards per kick return (29th in the nation) and 12.7 on punt returns (would’ve been 15th if he qualified). He returned one kick and one punt for a touchdowns, while leading the nation in all-purpose yards.
He had previously been named as the Paul Hornung Award winner, given annually to the most versatile player in the country.
The award is named for legendary former Nebraska Cornhusker and 1972 Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers. Austin will be feted at an awards banquet April 4 in Omaha.
This is the second year the award has been handed out. The 2012 winner was Arkansas’ Joe Adams.