BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football punter Cole Maynard has been named a Consensus All-American, the NCAA announced Friday.
Maynard is the first Consensus All-American during WKU's FBS Era (since 2009) and the sixth overall. He is WKU's first Consensus All-American since Buster Ashley received the recognition in 2004.
Maynard has been recognized as one of the top punters both in Conference USA and nationally throughout the season. He received Walter Camp All-America Second Team, Associated Press All-America First Team and American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team recognition. Maynard led the nation in punting average during the regular season at 48.7 yards per punt over 51 punting attempts. He was named the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Year and was a First Team All-CUSA selection. He was named to the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List, the 2025 CUSA Preseason Watch List, and was twice named to the Ray's 8 List honoring the top punting performances of the week. Maynard was also recognized with the top special teams performance of the week in the league twice as CUSA's Special Teams Player of the Week.
Maynard has accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 American Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
Over his 51 punts this season, Maynard has sent 25 50-plus yards – with a long of 71 yards – and has downed 12 inside the 20-yard line, with 15 fair catches and only five touchbacks. His 48.7 yards per punt would be a new WKU record for single-season punting average, topping the previous mark of 45.9 yards per punt by John Haggerty during the 2019 season.
Maynard was the first WKU player to be named to one of the All-America teams that comprise the NCAA's annual consensus team since wide receiver Jerreth Sterns was named Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America Second Team All-America in 2021. Maynard is the first player named to an AFCA All-America Team during the program's FBS Era (since 2009) and the first since Erik Losey in 2005. Maynard became the program's first player to be named AP All-America First Team since Ashley in 2004, and he is the program's first player to be named AP All-America First Team during WKU's FBS Era (since 2009). Maynard's recognition by the Walter Camp Football Foundation marked the first time a WKU player has been named to a Walter Camp All-America team since 2011, when running back Bobby Rainey received Second Team recognition.
Players receive Consensus All-America recognition by being listed on the most First Team All-America teams competing against players at that position only. To be selected a player must be named first team on at least two of the five selected All-America teams. Thirteen players were unanimous choices by the five organizations used in the consensus chart – American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation.
Maynard is one of 27 players named to the Consensus All-America team. He is one of three non-Power Conference Players to be named a Consensus All-American, and he is the only one from Conference USA.
In addition to Maynard, WKU's history of Consensus All-Americans includes Buster Ashley in 2004, Chris Price in 2002, Mel Mitchell in 2001, Bobby Sippio in 2000 and James Edwards in 1987.
WKU went 8-4 during the 2025 regular season and will face Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. To purchase tickets click HERE, and to donate tickets click HERE. For WKU's full 2025 New Orleans Bowl Central page, click HERE.
For all the latest on WKU Football, follow @WKUFootball on Twitter and Instagram and like the WKU Football Facebook page.
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