MIAMI (Dec. 7, 2020) – After a successful second year at FIU, punter Tommy Heatherly was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award on Monday afternoon.
Heatherly joins nine other semifinalists for the award, with the Panther being the only C-USA and non-Power 5 member on the list. The distinction is the first in program history at FIU, with Stone Wilson nearly missing the cut for the final 10 in 2018.
The Grove, Oklahoma native, has earned an FIU single-season record 44.4 average on just 28 punts attempts this season. The senior booted a career-long 69-yard punt against Jacksonville State earlier in the season, which ranks as the fourth-longest in school history. Heatherly has also helped the FIU punt return defense rank fifth nationally with a -0.43 average, while the Panthers’ net punt average of 42.59 ranks 10th-best in the country this season.
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, December 22nd. Voters will then vote again to determine the winner who will be announced live on Thursday, January 7th at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans. 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 finalists and the winner.
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