University of North Carolina Athletics
Hibbard Named To Ray Guy Watch List
July 9, 2014 | Football
The 25 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punters. Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) is the lone returning Ray Guy Award finalist from 2013. Returning semifinalists include Cameron Johnston (Ohio State) and Mike Sadler (Michigan State).
Hibbard was an honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2013 and is on the Ray Guy Watch List for the second consecutive season. The Charlotte product averaged 43.0 yards per punt on 65 attempts as a junior, with 25 of those kicks downed inside the opponents' 20. Carolina ranked fourth nationally in punt return average, with opponents gaining just 2.89 yards per return.
The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens for 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 semi-finalists, who will be announced on November 14. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists, to be announced on November 24. 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 11, 2014.
2014 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List
· Zach Paul (Jr.), Akron
· Sam Irwin-Hill (Sr.), Arkansas
· Spencer Roth (Sr.), Baylor
· Cole Leininger (Jr.), California
· Will Monday (Jr.), Duke
· Sean Kelley (Jr.), Florida Atlantic
· Garrett Swanson (Jr.), Fresno State
· Austin Rehkow (So.), Idaho
· Trevor Pardula (Sr.), Kansas
· Anthony Melchiori (Jr.), Kent State
· Justin Manton (Sr.), LA.-Monroe
· Tyler Williams (Jr.), Marshall
· Mike Sadler (Sr.), Michigan State
· Peter Mortell (Jr.), Minnesota
· Tommy Hibbard (Sr.), North Carolina
· Wil Baumann (Sr.), North Carolina State
· Cameron Johnston (So.), Ohio State
· James Farrimond (Jr.), Rice
· Riley Dixon (Jr.), Syracuse
· Drew Kaser (Jr.), Texas A&M
· Hunter Mullins (Sr.), UAB
· Tom Hackett (Jr.), Utah
· Taylor Hudson (Sr.), Vanderbilt
· A.J. Hughes (Jr.), Virginia Tech
· Nick O'Toole (Jr.), West Virginia
The Augusta Sports Council presents the Ray Guy Award, given to the collegiate punter of the year at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN in Orlando, Fla.
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hal of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times a 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. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team's success. Learn more about the Ray Guy Award at www.RayGuyAward.com.
The Augusta Sports Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 678 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.
