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For the second consecutive season, Colorado State punter Hayden Hunt is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award – presented annually to college football’s most outstanding punter.
The 2015 All-American ranks among the nation’s leaders with a 44.2 gross punting average and 42.0 net average, but his ability stretches far wider than long punts. Of his 44 punts this season, 22 (50%) have pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line, including 15 punts inside the 15 (34%), seven inside the 10 (16%) and three inside the 5 (7%). Hunt has just two touchbacks, and has not had a punt blocked. He has 12 punts of at least 50 yards, with a long of 61.
Twice this season, Hunt has been named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. He averaged 46.7 yards over seven punts in a Sept. 10 win over UTSA, placing five inside the Roadrunners’ 20-yard line and two inside the 10. A pair of punts went 50-plus yards, including a 59-yarder that went out of bounds on the fly at the 6-yard line. He earned the weekly honor again on Oct. 17 after averaging 43.3 yards over seven punts at No. 15 Boise State, with two traveling 50-plus yards and four being marked inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line. Most impressive, Hunt also performed three on-side kicks in a row, the first two of which were successful and led to CSU touchdowns during a 20-point scoring spree over 1:25.
In addition to his two successful on-side kicks, Hunt is also 2-for-2 on fake punts. Facing 4th-and-5 from the Rams’ 30-yard line at Minnesota, Hunt completed a 29-yard pass to DB Braylin Scott for a first down, which led to a touchdown six plays later. Two weeks later, in a come-from-behind win over Utah State, Hunt rushed for a six-yard gain and a first down on a 4th-and-6 fake.
Over the past four games – in which CSU has gone 3-1 – 11 of Hunt’s 20 punts have been downed inside the 20. Opponents have not started a drive beyond their 27-yard line after a punt from Hunt, with an average post-punt drive beginning at their own 16.2-yard line.
Hunt, a senior from Long Beach, Calif., who is studying political science, was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list in July and was selected as a candidate in October. The Augusta Sports Council will narrow the list to three finalists on Nov. 22, with a national body of FBS sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous winners voting. The 2016 winner will be featured live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8, from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga.
The other semifinalists are Austin Barnes (Eastern Michigan), Nicholas Conte (Virginia), Steven Coutts (Louisiana-Lafayette), Joseph Davidson (Bowling Green), Michael Dickson (Texas), Cameron Johnston (Ohio State), Zach Sinor (Oklahoma State), Johnny Townsend (Florida) and Mitch Wishnowsky (Utah). Hunt, Johnston and Townsend were also 2015 semifinalists, while Hunt is the only returning finalist.
As a junior in 2015, Hunt ranked fifth nationally, averaging 46.0 yards per punt, while the Rams’ team net punting average of 42.0 ranked fourth in all of college football. Of Hunt’s 52 punts as a junior, 15 went at least 50 yards (28.8%), 24 (46.2%) were marked down inside the 20-yard line, 18 were fair caught (34.6%) and just one was a touchback (1.9%). Prior to the start of 2016, he was named Preseason All-America by ESPN, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and Athlon Sports.