Colorado’s Alex Kinney named to Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List

Colorado Buffaloes punter Alex Kinney was named to the 2018 Ray Guy Award preseason watch list that recognizes the nation’s top punter, per an announcement by the Augusta Sports Council.

The Fort Collins, Colo. native was one of 27 punters to make the list, and one of four to represent the Pac-12 Conference. Kinney is coming off a season in which he set a CU record for most punts downed inside the 20-yard line with 28. He also has a gross of 43.8 yards per punt with a net punting average of 41.7 yards; that was good for 26th in the nation. He was named to Athlon Sports and Phil Steele’s preseason All-Pac-12 third teams, respectively. There have been two finalist for the Ray Guy Awards in Colorado’s history — Mark Mariscal won the award in 2002 and John Torp was runner-up in 2005.

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 is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team’s success. Kinney, a captain on the Buffs, should be as impactful for the Buffs on the field as he is off it.

The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Thursday, December 6, 2018.