University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Byrns Named To Ray Guy Award Watch List
7/27/2022 9:23:00 AM | Football
Senior punter repeats on Pre-Season list; one of six SBC punters named
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns punter Rhys Byrns was one of 48 punters nationwide named to the 2022 Ray Guy Award Pre-Season Watch List, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Wednesday.
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Byrns, who was named to the 2021 Ray Guy Pre-Season Watch List, was one of six Sun Belt Conference punters named to the 48-member list.
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As a junior, the Rye, Australia native ranked first in the Sun Belt and 11th in the nation with 46.3 yards average with 19 attempts of over 50 yards. He placed 22 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line during the season and posted a season-long of 70 yards in a win at Troy.
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Byrns averaged 47.3 yards on kick attempts in last year's SBC Championship Game against App State, including a 55-yard boot. He matched a career high with seven punts for 289 yards, placing five boots inside the 20-yard line against Georgia Southern.
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The 48 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punters. The 2022 watch list was compiled based on the 2021 Ray Guy Award Semifinalist List, the top ten NCAA Punters from 2021, the 2021 All-Conference teams, the 2021 All-American Teams, the 2022 pre-season All-Conference Teams and eligible punters on the 2021 watchlist.
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The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens nominations on July 28. The complete list of candidates will be released on November 2nd. In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists, who will be announced on November 8th.
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A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on November 18th. 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 in December 2022.
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Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
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2022 Ray Guy Preseason Watchlist
Adam Korsak                          Rutgers
Alex Mastromanno                Florida State
Andrew Osteen                      University of Central Florida
Andy Vujnovich                      Wisconsin
Anthony Beck IIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Georgia Southern
Austin McNamara                  Texas Tech
Ben Kiernan                           University of North Carolina
Bernardo Rodriguez               University of North Texas
Brad Robbins                         Michigan
Brendan Hall                          SMU
Brian Buschini                        Nebraska
Bryce Baringer                       Michigan State
Colin Goodfellow                   Kentucky
Dom Dzioban                         Miami (OH)
Ethan Duane                          Old Dominion
Issac Power                            Baylor
Ivan Mora                              Wake Forest
Jack Brooks                            University of South Alabama
Jacob Barnes                          Louisiana Tech
Jamieson Sheahan                 Cal
Jay Bramblett                         LSU
Joe Doyle                               Memphis
Jordy Sandy                            TCU
Kai Kroeger                            South Carolina
Kyle Greenwell                       UAB
Kyle Ostendorp                      Arizona
Kyle Ulbrich                            Middle Tennessee
Lachlan Wilson                       Tulsa
Laine Wilkins                          Houston
Lou Hedley                             Miami
Lucas Dean                             UTSA
Luke Elzinga                           Central Michigan
Mason Hunt                           Southern Miss
Matthew Hayball                   Vanderbilt
Michael Turk                          Oklahoma
Nick Mihalic                           Western Michigan
Nik Constantinou                   Texas A&M
Paxton Brooks                        University of Tennessee
Porter Wilson                         Duke
Reid Bauer                             Arkansas
Rhys Byrns                             Louisiana
Ryan Hanson                          Arkansas State
Ryan Rehkow                         BYU
Ryan Sanborn                         Stanford
Stephen Kotsanlee                 Utah State
Tom Hutton                           Oklahoma State
Tory Taylor                             Iowa
Ty Zentner                              Kansas State
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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. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage 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.
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Byrns, who was named to the 2021 Ray Guy Pre-Season Watch List, was one of six Sun Belt Conference punters named to the 48-member list.
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As a junior, the Rye, Australia native ranked first in the Sun Belt and 11th in the nation with 46.3 yards average with 19 attempts of over 50 yards. He placed 22 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line during the season and posted a season-long of 70 yards in a win at Troy.
Â
Byrns averaged 47.3 yards on kick attempts in last year's SBC Championship Game against App State, including a 55-yard boot. He matched a career high with seven punts for 289 yards, placing five boots inside the 20-yard line against Georgia Southern.
Â
The 48 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punters. The 2022 watch list was compiled based on the 2021 Ray Guy Award Semifinalist List, the top ten NCAA Punters from 2021, the 2021 All-Conference teams, the 2021 All-American Teams, the 2022 pre-season All-Conference Teams and eligible punters on the 2021 watchlist.
Â
The number of eligible candidates for this season will grow when the award opens nominations on July 28. The complete list of candidates will be released on November 2nd. In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists, who will be announced on November 8th.
Â
A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on November 18th. 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 in December 2022.
Â
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@RaginCajunsFB) to stay up-to-date on Louisiana Football.
Â
2022 Ray Guy Preseason Watchlist
Adam Korsak                          Rutgers
Alex Mastromanno                Florida State
Andrew Osteen                      University of Central Florida
Andy Vujnovich                      Wisconsin
Anthony Beck IIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Georgia Southern
Austin McNamara                  Texas Tech
Ben Kiernan                           University of North Carolina
Bernardo Rodriguez               University of North Texas
Brad Robbins                         Michigan
Brendan Hall                          SMU
Brian Buschini                        Nebraska
Bryce Baringer                       Michigan State
Colin Goodfellow                   Kentucky
Dom Dzioban                         Miami (OH)
Ethan Duane                          Old Dominion
Issac Power                            Baylor
Ivan Mora                              Wake Forest
Jack Brooks                            University of South Alabama
Jacob Barnes                          Louisiana Tech
Jamieson Sheahan                 Cal
Jay Bramblett                         LSU
Joe Doyle                               Memphis
Jordy Sandy                            TCU
Kai Kroeger                            South Carolina
Kyle Greenwell                       UAB
Kyle Ostendorp                      Arizona
Kyle Ulbrich                            Middle Tennessee
Lachlan Wilson                       Tulsa
Laine Wilkins                          Houston
Lou Hedley                             Miami
Lucas Dean                             UTSA
Luke Elzinga                           Central Michigan
Mason Hunt                           Southern Miss
Matthew Hayball                   Vanderbilt
Michael Turk                          Oklahoma
Nick Mihalic                           Western Michigan
Nik Constantinou                   Texas A&M
Paxton Brooks                        University of Tennessee
Porter Wilson                         Duke
Reid Bauer                             Arkansas
Rhys Byrns                             Louisiana
Ryan Hanson                          Arkansas State
Ryan Rehkow                         BYU
Ryan Sanborn                         Stanford
Stephen Kotsanlee                 Utah State
Tom Hutton                           Oklahoma State
Tory Taylor                             Iowa
Ty Zentner                              Kansas State
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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. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage 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.
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Players Mentioned
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/ FootballMichael Desormeaux Media Availbility (Oct 13, 2025)
Monday, October 13
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Oct 6, 2025)
Monday, October 06
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Sep 29, 2025)
Monday, September 29
Collin Jacob Media Availability (Sep 27, 2025)
Sunday, September 28
