Sheldon Named To Ray Guy Award Watch List

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- The Augusta Sports Council has announced the preseason watch list for the 2017 Ray Guy Award, and North Carolina sophomore Tom Sheldon is among those considered one of the nation's top collegiate punters.

A left-footed punter from Australia who averaged 42.7 yards per punt in 2016, Sheldon was an FWAA Freshman All-American in his first season in Chapel Hill. Powered by Sheldon's strong and accurate leg, Carolina ranked third in the ACC in net punting (40.2) and first nationally in punt return defense. For the season, opponents returned nine punts for just two yards.

The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens nominations in September. The complete list of candidates will be released on October 31. In early November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists, who will be announced on November 16. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on November 21. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

2017 Ray Guy Award Pre-Season Watch List:

Derek Adams (So.), Kent State
Jake Bailey (Jr.), Stanford
Matt Bonadies (Jr.), Middle Tennessee
Bailey Cate (So.), Old Dominion
A.J. Cole III (Jr.), North Carolina State
Jake Collins (RS Jr.), WKU
Logan Cooke (Sr.), Mississippi State
Steven Coutts (So.), California
Trevor Daniel (RS Sr.), Tennessee
Joseph Davidson (RS Sr.), Bowling Green
Michael Dickson (Jr.), Texas
Colin Downing (Sr.), Iowa State
Corey Fatony (Jr.), Missouri
Blake Gillikin (So.), Penn State
Jonathan Hernandez (Sr.), USF
Logan Laurent (RS Sr.), Massachusetts
Wade Lees (So.), Maryland
Johnny Linehan (Sr.), BYU
Adam Nunez (So.), TCU
Nick Porebski (Sr.), Oregon State
JK Scott (Sr.), Alabama
Austin Seibert (Jr.), Oklahoma
North Carolina, Tom Sheldon (So.), North Carolina
Zach Sinor (RS Jr.), Oklahoma State
Spencer Smith (RS Sr.), Memphis
Chris Tilbey (RS Jr.), USC
Johnny Townsend (RS Sr.), Florida
Shane Tripucka (Sr.), Texas A&M
Mitch Wishnowsky (Jr.), Utah

About the Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.

About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) enriches the quality of life and economic well-being for the Augusta metropolitan area by supporting and attracting sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

Players Mentioned

Tom Sheldon

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