Larson Named Ray Guy Award Semifinalist

Lincoln -- Nebraska senior punter Kyle Larson has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2003 Ray Guy Award, given annually to the nation’s top punter. This marks the second straight season Larson has been named a semifinalist for the fourth-annual award.

The senior from Funk, Neb., is one of three players who have been semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award each of the past two seasons, joining Tennessee’s Dustin Colquitt and Virginia Tech’s Vinnie Burns. Larson is the only Big 12 punter on the semifinal list.

Larson averages 45.2 yards per punt this season to rank seventh nationally and has helped Nebraska to a No. 9 national rank in net punting at 40.5 yards per attempt. Larson’s 45.2 yards per punt would be a Husker single-season record for punting average and he ranks second at Nebraska in career punting average at 43.55 yards per punt.

Larson has boomed 14 punts of 50 yards or more this season, including a career-long 80-yard punt at Texas two weeks ago. He has pinned the opposition inside the 20 on 17 of his punts this season and has played a key role in Nebraska holding a 10-yard advantage in average starting field position.

Finalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced later this month, with the winner announced on Dec. 11 at the ESPN Awards Show in Orlando. Colorado’s Mark Mariscal was the 2002 Ray Guy Award Winner.

Ray Guy Award Semifinalists

Name School

Kyle Basler

Washington State

Vinnie Burns

Virginia Tech

Dustin Colquitt

Tennessee

Donnie Jones

Louisiana State

Kyle Larson 

Nebraska

Andy Lee

Pittsburgh

Tom Malone

USC

Adam Podlesh

Maryland

Matt Prater

Central Florida

B.J. Sander

Ohio State