Sept. 19, 2007

University of South Carolina punter Ryan Succop is one of 41 punters named to the watch list for the 2007 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation’s top collegiate punter, as announced by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

Succop, a 6-2, 214-pound junior from Hickory, N.C., averaged 43.7 yards per punt in 2006 with a long of 58 yards. Seven of his 29 punts were downed inside the 20. This season, Succop, who also handles the Gamecocks’ placekicking, is averaging 41.9 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. Three of his 12 punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line. Succop was a 2007 pre-season second team all-SEC selection by both the media and the coaches.

The Ray Guy Award is determined by a national selection committee made up of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, past Ray Guy Award winners, and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Among the statistics used to identify the Ray Guy Award winner are total yardage punted, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, net average, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. It is also of importance for the award winner to display team leadership, self-discipline, and to have a positive impact on the team’s success.

The Ray Guy Award watch list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists, to be announced in early-November. The national voting body will then vote for the top three finalists who will be announced at the end of November. The award will be presented live on ESPN December 6, 2007 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.