MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama State University punter
Aubrey Grace was named to the Augusta Sports Council's pre-season watch list for the 2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate FCS punter.
Grace earned BOXTOROW All-American and All-SWAC Second Team in 2021. The Pike Road High product was among the nation's best in punting with a 41.1-yard average, averaging a season-bet 48 years per punt against Mississippi Valley State. Additionally, Grace forced three fair catches and pinned seven punts inside the 20 and nine of over 50 yards.
The 22 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Championship Series (FCS) punters. The 2022 watch list was compiled based on the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year watchlist, the 2021 All-Conference teams, the 2021 All-American Teams, and the 2022 pre-season All-Conference Teams.
The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be voted on by the FCS Punter of the Year Award/Ray Guy Award Committee and will be announced after regular season play commences.
2022 FCS Preseason Punter of the Year Watchlist
| Aaron Trusler |
Richmond |
| Aubrey Grace |
Alabama State |
| Austin Dunlap |
Southeastern Louisiana |
| Brady Buell |
Houston Baptist |
| Bryce Leighton |
Montana State |
| Chris Faddoul |
Florida A&M |
| Davey Schaum-Bartocci |
Rhode Island |
| Grant Burkett |
Missouri State |
| Jake Gerardi |
Southern Utah |
| Josh Sanchez |
Arkansas Pine Bluff |
| Kaedin Steindorf |
North Dakota State |
| Kaleb Mosley |
Tennessee State |
| Landon Parker |
Wofford |
| Lewis Halton |
Murray State |
| Matt Noll |
Delaware State |
| Matt Rigney |
Austin Peay |
| Nathan Fondacaro |
Villanova |
| Patrick Haughney |
Holy Cross |
| Ryan Kost |
Monmouth |
| Tyler Pastula |
University at Albany |
| Will Powers |
Princeton |
| Zach Haynes |
Southeast Missouri |
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.
