UC Punter named to Watch List

CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati junior punter Pat O'Donnell (Lakeworth, Fla./Palm Beach Central) was named to the preseason watch list for the 2012 Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate punter, the Augusta Sports Council announced.

UC led the BIG EAST in net punting behind the kicking of O'Donnell, a First-Team All-BIG EAST Conference selection in 2011 as a sophomore.

O'Donnell, a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award a year ago, finished with a net punting average of 43.8 yards per kick, including 26 kicks dropped inside the 20 and a league high 17 boots of 50 yards or more. O'Donnell also handled the kickoff duties, averaging 64.2 yards per kick and giving the opponent and average starting field position on the 27-yard line.

Earlier this summer, O'Donnell was named an All-American Athlete by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

In early November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semi-finalists, who will be announced on November 9. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists, to be announced on November 19. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Thursday, December 6.