BATON ROUGE – LSU sophomore punter Brad Wing was named to the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list, the Augusta Sports Council announced Wednesday.
Wing was a 2011 semifinalist for the award that honors the nation’s top collegiate punter, and he is one of 25 players named to the initial watch list, including four other punters from SEC teams.
Wing represents LSU’s first selection to the Ray Guy Award watch list since Chris Jackson in 2006.
Wing excelled as a redshirt freshman last season, averaging 44.4 yards a punt on the way to earning First-Team All-American honors from the Associated Press, CBSsports.com, FoxSportsNext.com and Sports Illustrated. He was also named a Freshman All-American by CBSsports.com and Sporting News as well as a First-Team All-SEC punter by the AP.
Last season his 44.4-yard per punt average ranked second in the SEC and 11th nationally, and it represents the fourth-best single season average in LSU history. In addition, Wing showed fantastic accuracy as he placed 27 of his 59 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, including 13 punts inside the 10-yard line, with only five touchbacks.
Wing also showed his leg strength last season when he boomed a season-long 73-yard punt at Alabama that ranks as the third-longest punt in school history.
The number of eligible candidates for the award will grow when nominations are accepted in September. The complete list of candidates will be released on Oct. 26. Ten semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 9, and three finalists will be selected on Nov. 19.
A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will select the 2012 winner, who will be announced live on Dec. 6 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
2012 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List
Name, School, Year
Dylan Breeding, Arkansas, Jr.
Steven Clark, Auburn, Jr.
Brian Schmiedebusch, Bowling Green, Jr.
Riley Stephenson, BYU, Sr.
Pat O’Donnell, Cincinnati, Jr.
Darragh O’Neill, Colorado, Sr.
Pete Kontodiakos, Colorado State, Sr.
Richie Leone, Houston, Jr.
Bobby Cowan, Idaho, Sr.
Kirby Van Der Kamp, Iowa State, So.
Ron Doherty, Kansas, Jr.
Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech, Sr.
Brad Wing, LSU, So.
Dalton Botts, Miami, So.
Brett Maher, Nebraska, Sr.
Will Atterberry, North Texas, Sr.
Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss, Jr.
Jackson Rice, Oregon, Sr.
Harrison Waid, San Jose State, So.
Jeff Locke, UCLA, Sr.
Sean Sellwood, Utah, Sr.
Tyler Bennett, Utah State, Sr.
Ian Campbell, UTEP, Sr.
Richard Kent, Vanderbilt, Sr.
2012 NCFAA Preseason Watch List Calendar
Monday, July 9 – Bednarik Award (Tyrann Mathieu, Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, Eric Reid) | Details
Tuesday, July 10 – Rimington Trophy (P.J. Lonergan) | Details
Tuesday, July 10 – Mackey Award (Chase Clement) | Details
Wednesday, July 11 – Lou Groza Award (Drew Alleman) | Details
Wednesday, July 11 – Ray Guy Award (Brad Wing) | Details
Thursday, July 12 – Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
Friday, July 13 – Jim Thorpe Award
Monday, July 16 – Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
Tuesday, July 17 – Biletnikoff Award
Wednesday, July 18 – Davey O’Brien Award
Thursday, July 19 – Doak Walker Award
Friday, July 20 – Walter Camp Award