Maynard Named To Ray’s 8 For Week 1

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU punter Cole Maynard was named one of Ray's 8 for Week 1 by the Ray Guy Award on Tuesday.

The Ray Guy Award honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the FBS, and the Ray's 8 list recognizes the top punting performances each week throughout the season. Maynard was one of 15 players included on the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List released earlier this summer. He was one of only five non-Power Conference players included when the list was released.

Maynard, who was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 0, had three punts for 161 yards in Saturday's 55-6 win over North Alabama – an average of 53.7 yards per punt – with all three traveling 50-plus yards and one landing inside the 20. Through two games, Maynard is averaging 51.2 yards per punt, with five traveling 50-plus yards, including a long of 71 yards in the season-opening win over Sam Houston.

The complete list of candidates for the Ray Guy Award will be released Nov. 5, and in mid-November the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the 10 semifinalists. A national body of FBS sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced in late November. 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 2025.

The Hilltoppers will hit the road for the first time this season when they head to Toledo for a 6 p.m. CT game on Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

Cole Maynard

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