Nov. 3, 2006
ATLANTA–Georgia Tech punter Durant Brooks was named today as one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.
The Ray Guy Award is presented by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Guy is a native of Thomson, Ga., and has been a mentor for Brooks, who attended the former NFL star’s kicking camp.
The junior from Macon, Ga., has become a very effective weapon in his first season in a Georgia Tech uniform. A transfer from Georgia Military College, Brooks leads the ACC with a 44.8-yard average, which stands seventh in the nation.
Brooks’ net of 41.20 yards per punt leads the ACC and ranks second nationally. Twenty-one of his 45 punts have been inside the 20-yard line, and only 19 of his punts have been returned, for an average of just 3.3 yards.
Brooks played a key role in the Jackets’ win over Miami, when he averaged 50.8 yards with a net of 45.2 on six punts. He boomed a 63-yard punt when Tech was backed up at its own one-yard line. Then, with Tech holding a seven-point lead and trying to run out the clock, he nailed a 53-yard kick to the 16-yard line, which Miami fumbled to end the game. Brooks was named ACC Specialist of the Week.
Brooks punted seven times for a 48.1-yard average against second-ranked Notre Dame. He had three kicks of over 50 yards against the Irish, including a 57-yarder, and he had four punts inside the 20-yard line.
In the Jackets’ win at 10th-ranked Virginia Tech, Brooks averaged 45.8 yards on five punts, including kicks that were downed at the three- and four yard lines.
A national voting body of Division 1-A coaches and sports information directors, national media, and former punters will decide the three award finalists, and ultimately the winner of this year’s award. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards show, Thursday, December 7, 2006. The winner will again be honored at the Greater Augusta Sports Award Gala in early 2007.
Semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award:Durant Brooks Georgia Tech JuniorRyan Dougherty E Carolina SeniorSean Douglas Washington SeniorBrandon Fields Michigan State SeniorZach Johnson E. Michigan FreshmanJeremy Kapinos Penn State SeniorGeoff Price Notre Dame JuniorLouie Sakoda Utah SophomoreDaniel Sepulveda Baylor SeniorSam Swank Wake Forest Sophomore
