Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Bryce Baringer Named Semifinalist for Ray Guy Award
11/21/2022 4:36:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Augusta Sports Council has announced that Michigan State's Bryce Baringer has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's best collegiate punter.
Baringer, who has been ranked No. 1 in the FBS in punting for seven consecutive weeks, continues to lead the nation with his 48.4-yard punting average. MSU also leads the FBS in net punting (45.0-yard average) as Baringer has only three touchbacks this season while placing 20 of his 45 punts (44 percent) inside the 20, including eight inside the 10. The sixth-year graduate senior also has 21 punts of 50-plus yards (47 percent), third in the Big Ten, including eight of 60-plus yards.
A two-time Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week (vs. Ohio State and Illinois), Baringer was named a first-team midseason Associated Press All-American and he has made five appearances on the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll (vs. Western Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Rutgers).
Baringer's career punting average of 45.7 yards per punt (156 punts for 7,134 yards) is currently the best in Big Ten history (Reggie Roby, Iowa, 45.5 average from 1979-82).
The 10 semifinalists were chosen from a field of 81 nominated candidates; the candidates were evaluated by the Ray Guy Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, number of times a punt was downed or kicked out-of-bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and previous Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists who will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Voters will then vote again to determine the winner who will be announced live on Thursday, Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans for the 2022 winner. The Fan Vote will be located on the Ray Guy Award website and is equivalent to one national selection committee member's vote. The vote will be included for the selection of the winner once the three finalists have been announced.
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000.
Baringer and the Spartans (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) return to action at No. 11/10 Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. on FS1.
2022 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
Bryce Baringer, Michigan State
Oscar Chapman, Auburn
Mason Fletcher, Cincinnati
Lou Hedley, Miami
Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Kai Kroeger, South Carolina
Jesse Mirco, Ohio State
Jon Sot, Notre Dame
Michael Turk, Oklahoma
Ty Zentner, Kansas State
Baringer, who has been ranked No. 1 in the FBS in punting for seven consecutive weeks, continues to lead the nation with his 48.4-yard punting average. MSU also leads the FBS in net punting (45.0-yard average) as Baringer has only three touchbacks this season while placing 20 of his 45 punts (44 percent) inside the 20, including eight inside the 10. The sixth-year graduate senior also has 21 punts of 50-plus yards (47 percent), third in the Big Ten, including eight of 60-plus yards.
A two-time Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week (vs. Ohio State and Illinois), Baringer was named a first-team midseason Associated Press All-American and he has made five appearances on the "Ray's 8" weekly honor roll (vs. Western Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Rutgers).
Baringer's career punting average of 45.7 yards per punt (156 punts for 7,134 yards) is currently the best in Big Ten history (Reggie Roby, Iowa, 45.5 average from 1979-82).
The 10 semifinalists were chosen from a field of 81 nominated candidates; the candidates were evaluated by the Ray Guy Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, number of times a punt was downed or kicked out-of-bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and previous Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists who will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Voters will then vote again to determine the winner who will be announced live on Thursday, Dec. 8 at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans for the 2022 winner. The Fan Vote will be located on the Ray Guy Award website and is equivalent to one national selection committee member's vote. The vote will be included for the selection of the winner once the three finalists have been announced.
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000.
Baringer and the Spartans (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) return to action at No. 11/10 Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. on FS1.
2022 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
Bryce Baringer, Michigan State
Oscar Chapman, Auburn
Mason Fletcher, Cincinnati
Lou Hedley, Miami
Adam Korsak, Rutgers
Kai Kroeger, South Carolina
Jesse Mirco, Ohio State
Jon Sot, Notre Dame
Michael Turk, Oklahoma
Ty Zentner, Kansas State
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