AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta Sports Council is pleased to announce its preseason watch list for the 2021 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Punter of the Year Award which honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the FCS.
Southeast Missouri junior
Zach Haynes is one of 20 players named to this year's list.
A native of Potosi, Missouri, Haynes had a brilliant debut as SEMO's starting punter last season. He secured First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference accolades after topping the league and rating 15th in the FCS with 42.2 yards per punt. Haynes punted 36 times for 1,521 yards and placed 15 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. Initially a walk-on, Haynes was awarded a full scholarship following the 2020 campaign.
The 20 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FCS punters. The 2021 watch list was compiled based on the 2020 FCS Punter of the Year Watch List, All-Conference and All-America teams, and the 2021 Preseason All-Conference teams.
The FCS Punter of the Year award-winner will be voted on by the FCS Punter of the Year/Ray Guy Award Committee and will be announced at the conclusion of regular season play (subject to change based on current COVID-19 updates and decision making by the NCAA and other organizing bodies).
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. 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.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) enriches the quality of life and economic well-being for the Augusta metropolitan area by supporting and attracting sporting activities. To learn more, visit
www.augustasportscouncil.org.
2021 FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List
Andrew Foster, Morehead State
Aubrey Grace, Alabama State
Austin Dunlap, Southeastern Louisiana
Ben Niesner, Valparaiso
Brady Schutt, South Dakota
Chris Faddoul, Florida A&M
Zach Haynes, Southeast Missouri
D.J. Arnson, Northern Alabama
Daniel Whelan, UC Davis
Harry O'Kelly, James Madison
Joe Gurley, North Alabama
Jon Sot, Harvard
JT Bohlken, Illinois State
Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State
Matthew Campbell, The Citadel
Matt McRobert, Sam Houston State
Nathan Fondacaro, Villanova
Noah Gettman, Sacred Heart
Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross
Ryan Richter, Norfolk State
