Bowling Green punter John Henderson has been included in the 2025 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List, according to an announcement by the Augusta Sports Council. The Ray Guy Award recognizes the top collegiate FBS punter in the nation. Henderson is the sole representative from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) on this list.
In 2024, Henderson was the only MAC semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award and earned second-team All-MAC honors. He recorded 50 punts with an average of 40.8 yards, achieving a long punt of 66 yards and placing 21 punts inside the 20-yard line. Only nine of his punts were returned, and Bowling Green State University’s punt defense allowed just 34 return yards during the regular season. Eight of his punts landed inside the 10-yard line, and 21 were fair caught.
The watch list includes a wide range of FBS punters, selected based on their performance as 2024 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists, All-American and All-Conference selections, top-performing punters, and those named to 2025 Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Conference teams. This initial list is not final; additional candidates will be added throughout the season as nominations open.
The complete candidate list will be released on November 5. In mid-November, ten semifinalists will be chosen by the Ray Guy Award committee. A national panel comprising Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives, and past award winners will vote for three finalists to be announced later in November. The final voting will determine the nation’s top punter, with results revealed live during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN in December 2025.
Ray Guy was a Hall of Fame punter known for his hang time skills and record-setting achievements. His career included a punting average of 42.2 yards per punt, six All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowl appearances, and a notable record-setting 93-yard punt for the Raiders.
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