South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger makes Ray Guy semifinal list
On Friday, South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award. Given annually to the country's top punter, the Ray Guy Award is named for the Hall of Famer of the same name.
Kroeger's inclusion was about as obvious as possible. The fifth-year senior has had a terrific season and has been even better this fall than he was in 2022. That year, Kroeger was an All-American and should have been one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award.
Kroeger and the other semifinalists will see their list of 10 shrink to three at the end of November.
From the South Carolina Athletics press release:
University of South Carolina fifth-year senior Kai Kroeger is one of 10 semifinalists for the 2024 Ray Guy Award, which recognizes the nation's top punter, the Augusta Sports Council announced today.
Kroeger, a 6-4, 213-pounder from Lake Forest, Ill., leads the SEC and ranks second in the nation with a 47.8-yard average. He earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts against Kentucky earlier this season, the fifth time he's won the award in his career. He boomed a season-best 75-yard punt against Akron, tying for the fourth-longest punt in FBS play in 2024. Kroeger, who ranks second in school history in career punting average at 44.5 yards per punt, was a 2022 All-SEC and All-America punter.
The candidates were evaluated by the Ray Guy Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, percentage of punts downed or kicked out-of-bounds inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and previous Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists who will be announced on Tuesday, November 26. The voting body will then vote again to determine the winner of the Ray Guy Award. The winner will be announced live on Thursday, December 12th during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
