Colorado State University Athletics
Hunt selected as candidate for Ray Guy Award
10/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Augusta Sports Council on Friday announced Colorado State punter Hayden Hunt as a nominee for the 2015 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation's top collegiate punter. This marks the third consecutive season that the junior has been a nominee for the national award.
Midway through the season, Hunt is averaging 45.6 yards per punt, eighth-best in the country. Of his 32 punts, eight have traveled at least 50 yards, 14 have been downed inside an opponent's 20-yard line and just one has resulted in a touchback. As a team, CSU's net punting average of 42.0 yards ranks sixth in the nation.
Hunt, a native of Long Beach, Calif., who is studying political science, has been one of the team's most consistent players. Against Minnesota on Sept. 12, he had a punt downed at the 2-yard line, traveling 73 yards. It was the eighth-longest punt in school history, and the longest in four seasons. The next week, he was named the Ray Guy Award Player of the Week. Two weeks later, at UTSA on Sept. 26, all four of Hunt's punts were marked down inside the Roadrunners' 20-yard line, including one which was downed at the 2. Two plays later, CSU's defense recorded a safety which was pivotal in the Rams' two-point victory.
Most recently, against Air Force on Oct. 17, Hunt had a punt downed at the 1-yard line. The Falcons were forced to punt soon after, and CSU took advantage of the short field, scoring in five plays to take an early 7-0 lead.
In July, Hunt was named to the award's watch list, and on Nov. 13, the list of 79 punters will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists. A national body of FBS sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous winners will then vote for the top three finalists, who will be named on Nov. 23. The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner, which will be featured live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
Earlier this month, senior tight end Kivon Cartwright was named to the 2015 John Mackey Award Midseason Watch List - presented each year to college football's most outstanding collegiate tight end - and senior safety Trent Matthews was one of 11 FBS players selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
