I've seen this punter. While our team (Oklahoma) beat Oklahoma State, all of us in the OU section were impressed by this guys punting ability. oSu better contact Nasa about sending things into orbit. haha!
The latest winner of the Ray Guy Award claimed the honor by doing something so simple -- he emulated Ray Guy.
Oklahoma State senior Matt Fodge took home the trophy given to the nation's best collegiate punter during Thursday night's Home Depot-ESPNU College Football Awards Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Using hang time as a weapon, Fodge beat out West Virginia's Pat McAfee and Utah's Louie Sakoda for the award, which was presented by Guy, representing the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
"It's a huge, huge honor," Fodge said by cell phone Thursday night. "Being able to accept the Ray Guy Award is a great experience."
Fodge won the award based on his overall punting game. The award's criteria includes punting average, 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.
Fodge would have ranked 11th in the nation in punting average, but he didn't meet the minimum requirement of 3.6 punts per game. That's because the Cowboys averaged 42 points a game.
Fodge punted 31 times for a 44.1 average with a long of 71 yards. He also hit 17 of his punts inside the 20.
Fodge helped No. 13 Oklahoma State finish first in the Big 12 Conference and second in the nation in net punting average (40.7).
"I have a great coverage unit," he said. "I couldn't do it without the other 10 guys on the team."
In three of the Cowboys' four games against top-three opponents, Fodge kept punt returners in check. Opponents averaged three yards or less per return in those contests.
"He's got amazing coverage," Greater Augusta Sports Council event manager Randy DuTeau said. "He just boots the ball. With his hang time, he allows his team to get down there."
Fodge has one more game before he ends his collegiate career. Oklahoma State faces Oregon in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30.
Fodge will be honored in Augusta during the annual All-Area High School Football Banquet on Jan. 22 at Augusta Marriott Hotel and Suites.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com
PAST WINNERS
| YEAR | KICKER, SCHOOL |
| 2000 | Kevin Stemke, Wisconsin |
| 2001 | Travis Dorsch, Purdue |
| 2002 | Mark Mariscal, Colorado |
| 2003 | B.J. Sander, Ohio State |
| 2004 | Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor |
| 2005 | Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest |
| 2006 | Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor |
| 2007 | Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech |
| 2008 | Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State |
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