Ryan Eckley Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List

The Augusta Sports Council launched its annual watch listing for the award on Friday, which yearly honors the nation’s high collegiate punter within the FBS.

Eckley, who was named a second-team preseason All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, led the Big Ten and ranked among the many nationwide leaders final season along with his 47.9-yard common, which tied for the third-best common in MSU single-season historical past. The Lithia, Florida, native has earned second-team All-Big Ten honors the previous two seasons. He additionally ranked second within the Big Ten with 20 punts of 50-plus yards.

As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Eckley garnered Freshman All-America accolades after rating second within the Big Ten and eighth within the FBS along with his 46.8-yard punting common. In addition, he ranked second within the Big Ten in 50-plus yard punts (24) and fourth in punts contained in the 20 (23). He was added to the midseason Ray Guy Award Watch List in 2023 throughout his first season as a starter.

A two-year letterwinner, Eckley has a profession punting common of 47.2 yards per punt (99 punts for 4,677 yards), which might rank No. 1 in class historical past (present file: Bryce Baringer, 46.0 avg.). Eckley has booted 44 punts 50-plus yards (44 %) and likewise has 5 profession punts of 60-plus yards.  

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 establish the winner are web punting common, share of punts contained in the 20-yard line, and share of punts not returned, with specific emphasis positioned on web common. The winner should show staff management, self-discipline, and have a optimistic impression on the staff’s success.

The full listing of candidates for the 2025 Ray Guy Award will probably be launched on Nov. 5, and in mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to pick out the ten semifinalists. A nationwide physique of FBS sports activities data administrators, media representatives, and former Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the highest three finalists to be introduced in late November. After the finalists are named, the voting physique will solid ballots once more to pick out the nation’s high punter. The winner will probably be introduced reside throughout The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December 2025.