WVU's Oliver Straw Named to 2024 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watchlist

[Vernon]

Augusta, GA (August 2, 2024) - The Augusta Sports Council is pleased to announce the preseason watch list for the 2024 Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate punter in the FBS. The 33 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punters. The 2024 watch list was compiled based on the 2023 Ray Guy Award Semifinalist List, the top ten NCAA Punters from 2023, the 2023 All-Conference teams, the 2023 All-American Teams, the 2024 preseason All-Conference Teams, and eligible punters on the 2023 watchlist. The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens nominations on August 3. The complete list of candidates will be released on November 6. In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists, who will be announced on November 15. 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 26. 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 in December 2024. 2024 Preseason Watchlist Aaron Rodriguez, New Mexico Alec Bevelhimer, Miami (OH) Alex Mastromanno, Florida State Brett Thorson, Georgia Brian Buschini, Nebraska Daniel Sparks, Virginia Daton Montiel, FIU Eddie Czaplicki, USC Ivan Mora, Wake Forest Jack Bouwmeester, Utah Jack Dawson, Jax State James Burnip, Alabama James Evans, Indiana James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State Jesse Mirco, Vanderbilt Kai Kroeger, South Carolina Lachlan Wilson, California Lucas Borrow, Ball State Luke Elzinga, Oklahoma Mark Vassett, Colorado Marshall Nichols, UNLV Mason Fletcher, Cincinnati Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan Nick Haberer, Washington State Oliver Straw, West Virginia Oscar Chapman, Auburn Peter Moore, Virginia Tech Riley Riethman, Navy Riley Thompson, Penn State Ryan Eckley, Michigan State Ryan Hanson, James Madison Stephen Kotsanlee, Utah State Tyler Perkins, Iowa State

Ray Guy Award Timeline August 2 - Preseason watch list announced August 3 - Nomination period begins October 28 - Nominations close November 6 - Final candidate list announced November 15 - 10 Semifinalists announced November 18 - 24 - Online voting to determine finalists November 26 - Three Finalists announced November 27 - December 6 - Online voting to select winner December 12 - Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN 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 are 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) supports the many facets of local, national, and international sporting events that contribute to our community’s quality of life and economic development. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org About the NCFAA The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA. Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a 15-day period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2024 preseason watch list calendar: Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O'Brien Award Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award