Sports

Fresno States Blake Cusick Named a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Fresno State junior punter Blake Cusick has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2018 Ray Guy Award given annually to college football's top punter, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Thursday. One of 79 punters in the nation named to the final watch list on Nov. 5, Cusick has been stellar this season for the Bulldogs. In 10 games, the Monrovia, Calif., native has placed 55.8 percent, 24-of-43, of his punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Only eight, or 18.6 percent, of his punts have been returned for a total of 25 yards.

Cusick's 24 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line is the second-most in the FBS behind Max Duffy of Kentucky who has 25 while he has nine punts that have been placed inside the opponents' 10-yard line.

Fresno State currently leads the Mountain West and ranks 18th in the nation in net punting at 40.4 yards, while Cusick's average of 42.4 yards per punt ranks sixth in the Mountain West and 45th nationally. Ten of Cusick's punts have gone for 50-plus yards, including a career-long 72 yarder at Nevada

The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Guy, a native of Thomson, Ga. and member of the College Football Hall of Fame & Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Voting for the three finalists will begin today and go through Sunday with the finalists being named on Monday, Nov. 19. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Dec. 6.

2018 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists:
Blake Cusick, Fresno State
Braden Mann, Texas A&M
Brandon Wright, Georgia State
Cody Grace, Arkansas State
Dominic Panazzolo, Texas Tech
Drue Chrisman, Ohio State
Jack Fox, Rice
James Smith, Cincinnati
Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah
Tommy Townsend, Florida