AND THE WINNER IS...

The ninth annual Ray Guy Award will be presented during the Home Depot-ESPNU National College Football Awards Show from 7:30-9:30 tonight on ESPN. The honor, named after the former Thomson star who is widely considered the greatest punter ever, is given to the top collegiate punter in the United States.

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE

Oklahoma State's Matt Fodge, West Virginia's Pat McAfee and Utah's Louie Sakoda -- all seniors -- are up for the award. They made it through the initial list of 53 nominees.

"All three are having significant roles in the success of their teams," said Randy DuTeau, Greater Augusta Sports Council event manager. "With a strong punter, field position is everything."

HIS OWN PRIVATE IDAHO

Idaho punter T.J. Conley led the nation with a 47.43 average, but he wasn't a finalist. The top seven punters in average didn't make the cut. Punting average is just one part of the award's criteria, which includes net average, number of punts inside the 20-yard line, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, average return and percentage of punts not returned.

NUMBERS, PLEASE

McAfee is eighth in punting average (44.73), while Sakoda is 31st (41.72). McAfee had 53 punts (23 inside the 20, 19 longer than 50 yards). Sakoda, also Utah's field-goal kicker, hit 50 punts with a long of 81 yards.

Fodge is not ranked because he didn't have the minimum number of punts (3.6 per game). Instead, he had 31 punts for a 44.1 average with a long of 71 yards.

HISTORY LESSON

Last season, Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks won the award, becoming the first Georgian to claim the honor. He played in six games for the Washington Redskins this season before getting cut. He was replaced by another former Ray Guy Award winner, Ryan Plackemeier.

TO THE WINNER, SPOILS

The Ray Guy Award winner will be honored in Augusta during the annual All-Area High School Football Banquet on Jan. 22 at Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites.