Adams Returns to Ray Guy Award Watch List
7/25/2018 9:49:00 AM | Football
Kent State junior Derek Adams (Manheim, Pa.) was one of 27 student-athletes named to the 2018 Ray Guy Award preseason watch list Wednesday by the Augusta Sports Council. The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to the nation's top punter.
An All-Mid-American Conference Second Team selection in 2017, Adams finds himself on the preseason watch list for the second straight year. He was also recently named to Athlon's preseason All-MAC First Team. After two seasons, Adams ranks second in career punting average at Kent State, while his 43.6 yard average in 2017 ranks as the second best season in school history.
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 identify the winner is net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average.
In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the 10 semifinalists, who will be announced on Nov. 15. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Nov. 20. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Kent State opens its 2018 season Sept. 1, at Illinois followed by its home opener Sept. 8, against Howard.
