Oct. 31, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of senior punter Eric Guthrie has been named to the Watch List for the 2011 Ray Guy Award. The prestigious honor is given annually, by the Augusta Sports Council, to the nation’s top collegiate punter. There are 54 candidates, six from the Big Ten Conference, who were nominated by their school’s sports information department.
The list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists to be announced on November 11. Following the semifinalists announcement, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists, who will be identified on November 21. The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner.
Guthrie, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound native of Nevada, Iowa, is averaging 42 yards per punt. He has punted 24 times in eight games, with nine of those kicks winding up inside the 20 yard line. Three of his kicks have been over 50 yards, with a long of 59-yards. He ranks fifth among Big Ten punters. He has one touchback and opponents are averaging only 4.2 yards on six returns. Iowa ranks 12th nationally in net punting.
The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPN. Iowa’s Ryan Donahue was one of three finalists for the 2010 Ray Guy Award.