North Carolina State University Athletics
Cole Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List
7/12/2017 10:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Augusta Sports Council has announced that Wolfpack junior punter A.J. Cole III is on the preseason watch list for the 2017 Ray Guy Award for the second time in his career. The Guy Award has honored the nation's top collegiate punter since 2000.
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Cole, who has been the Wolfpack's starting punter in all 26 games of his career, is one of 29 candidates on the preseason list. He enters his junior campaign with the fourth-best career punting average in school history at 41.5 yards per kick. His 4,854 punting yards rank 11th in the career record books, while his 117 punts tie as the 15th-most in school history.
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"A.J. has shown maturity beyond his years both on and off the field since the first day he walked on campus," said head coach Dave Doeren. "He has been consistently strong for us in the very important punter position and I expect that this year will be his best ever."
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Earlier this week, Cole was named a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which honors collegiate players for their community service efforts. A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, he has been one of the team's top volunteers in the community. In addition to frequent visits to schools and other service initiatives, he has spent the past three spring breaks in Nakuru, Kenya, ministering to the children at Mountain Park Academy with a group from the FCA.
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The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to 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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Cole, who has been the Wolfpack's starting punter in all 26 games of his career, is one of 29 candidates on the preseason list. He enters his junior campaign with the fourth-best career punting average in school history at 41.5 yards per kick. His 4,854 punting yards rank 11th in the career record books, while his 117 punts tie as the 15th-most in school history.
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"A.J. has shown maturity beyond his years both on and off the field since the first day he walked on campus," said head coach Dave Doeren. "He has been consistently strong for us in the very important punter position and I expect that this year will be his best ever."
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Earlier this week, Cole was named a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which honors collegiate players for their community service efforts. A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, he has been one of the team's top volunteers in the community. In addition to frequent visits to schools and other service initiatives, he has spent the past three spring breaks in Nakuru, Kenya, ministering to the children at Mountain Park Academy with a group from the FCA.
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The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to 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
P
/ FootballCoach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24