North Carolina State University Athletics
11/5/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Augusta Sports Council has announced the Midseason Watch List for the 2026 Ray Guy Award. Named for football's premier punter, NC State's Jackson Waller has been named to the midseason watch list the organization announced Thursday afternoon.
The Ray Guy Award honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Sixty-three candidates have been named to the Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List from a field of 100 nominees. Evaluators assessed nominees on overall statistics, emphasizing net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20, and percentage of punts not returned.
This season, Waller has totaled 1,369 punting yards on 32 punts, averaging 42.8 yards per punt. Opponents have had just five returns totaling 20 yards, for an average of four yards per return.
The Katy, Texas native has a long punt of 60 yards with one touchback, 21 fair catches and 12 punts inside the 20. He has nine punts over 50 yards this season.
The Ray Guy Award Committee will determine the ten semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award. The semifinalists will be revealed on November 13. Three finalists will be selected by a national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners. After the finalists are announced, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner of the Ray Guy Award will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 11.
About the Ray Guy Award
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 are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned, with particular emphasis placed on net average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team's success.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta's River Region. Visit www.augustasportscouncil.org to learn more.
About the NCFAA
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
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