Sophomore punter James Smith has been amazing to watch all season, he has had a huge effect in multiple Bearcats wins because of his consistent field changing punting. For the sophomore to be named one of the three finalists just shows more than #BearcatNation is playing attention to the great season he is having.
Per GoBearcats
University of Cincinnati punter James Smith (Wangaratta, Australia) was named one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced Tuesday.
Smith is joined on the finalist list by Braden Mann of Texas A&M and Mitch Wishnowsky from Utah. The finalists were chosen from a field of 10 semifinalists by the Ray Guy Award national voting body which consists of FBS sports information directors, national media and previous Ray Guy Award winners.
Smith, a sophomore, ranks No. 4 in the NCAA FBS with his 46.7 yards per punt average. The Bearcats lead the NCAA FBS and American Athletic Conference in net punting (44.1). Smith had a career-long 72-yard punt against Temple earlier this season and has dropped 22 kicks inside the 20-yard line with 15 going 50 yards or more with only one touchback.
The sophomore has been honored on Ray’s 8, highlighting the best punters in college football each week, on five occasions in 2018 and he was tabbed as the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week on November 14, 2018.
Voters now have the chance to vote again to determine the winner who will be announced live on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans for the Ray Guy Award winner. The Fan Vote is located on the Ray Guy Award website and is equivalent to one national selection committee member’s vote. The vote was included for the selection of the finalists as well.
