Senior Luke Freer One of 10 Semifinalists for 2025 Ray Guy Award
11/14/2025 10:15:00 AM | Football
Augusta, GA (November 14, 2025) - The Augusta Sports Council is pleased to announce the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Ray Guy Award. The semifinalists were selected from a field of 92 nominated candidates. The Ray Guy Award - named for football's premier punter - honors the nation's best collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
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, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
2025 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Daniel Hughes, New Mexico
Dante Atton, Temple
Evan Crenshaw, Troy
Jackson Ross, Tennessee
James Rendell, Notre Dame
Luke Freer, Air Force
Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt
Palmer Williams, Baylor
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists. Voting for the finalists will open on November 15 and close November 23 at 8 p.m. ET. The three award finalists will be announced on Tuesday, November 25. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to determine the Ray Guy Award winner. The winner will be announced live on Friday, December 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Freer set a new Air Force record for career punting average at Air Force during the Utah State game. Freer punted three times for a 56.7 mark with a long of 60 yards. His first punt gave him 50 for his career, which is the minimum needed to qualify. He has a 45.9 career mark which broke the record of 44.4 by All-American Mark Simon. Freer is averaging 45.8 yards per punt this season on 19 punts. He has 10 I20s and seven of 50-plus. He would rank among the national leaders, but does not have enough attempts to qualify.
About the Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Punters are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Among the statistics used to identify the winner are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, 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) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta's River Region. Visit www.augustasportscouncil.org to learn more.
About the NCFAA
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
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, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
2025 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Daniel Hughes, New Mexico
Dante Atton, Temple
Evan Crenshaw, Troy
Jackson Ross, Tennessee
James Rendell, Notre Dame
Luke Freer, Air Force
Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt
Palmer Williams, Baylor
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
A national voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will decide the three award finalists. Voting for the finalists will open on November 15 and close November 23 at 8 p.m. ET. The three award finalists will be announced on Tuesday, November 25. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to determine the Ray Guy Award winner. The winner will be announced live on Friday, December 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Freer set a new Air Force record for career punting average at Air Force during the Utah State game. Freer punted three times for a 56.7 mark with a long of 60 yards. His first punt gave him 50 for his career, which is the minimum needed to qualify. He has a 45.9 career mark which broke the record of 44.4 by All-American Mark Simon. Freer is averaging 45.8 yards per punt this season on 19 punts. He has 10 I20s and seven of 50-plus. He would rank among the national leaders, but does not have enough attempts to qualify.
About the Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Punters are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Among the statistics used to identify the winner are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, 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) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta's River Region. Visit www.augustasportscouncil.org to learn more.
About the NCFAA
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.
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