Augusta, GA (August 11, 2010) – The Augusta Sports Council announced today the pre-season watch list for the 2010 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter. The pre-season list recognizes the seven returning Ray Guy Award semi-finalists from 2009. Among the notable punters are last year’s Ray Guy Award winner Drew Butler of Georgia and Florida’s Chas Henry. Last season, Mr. Butler, a consensus All-American, led the Bulldogs to a number one ranking in team net punting. The Gator’s Chas Henry was a 2009 Ray Guy Award finalist who’s Gators finished second in team net punting.

The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens for nominations in mid-August. The complete list of candidates will be released on October 28. In early-November the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semi-finalists, who will be announced on November 12. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists, to be announced on November 22. 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 ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN on Thursday, December 10.

2010 Ray Guy Award Pre-season Watch List

Drew Butler (Jr.) Georgia
Peter Caldwell (Sr.) Utah State
Ryan Donahue, (Sr.) Iowa
Johnny Hekker (Jr.) Oregon State
Chas Henry (Jr.) Florida, Junior
Jeff Locke (So.), UCLA
Rob Long (Sr.) Syracuse