Texas Tech University Athletics
Karoll named Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week
October 06, 2026 | Football
AUGUSTA, Ga. โ Texas Tech senior Will Karoll was named the national punter of the week Tuesday, earning the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week honor after being selected to Ray's 8 for Week Five. It marks Karoll's first national weekly honor after being named to Ray's 8 three times this season.
Ray's 8 features eight standout punters from the previous week's games who are eligible to be selected as the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. The Ray Guy Award Committee determines both the Ray's 8 selections and the weekly winner. Karoll was previously selected to Ray's 8 in Weeks Two and Four.
Karoll was also named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday for his Week Five performance at Colorado after punting three times for a net average of 55.7 yards in the Red Raiders' 29-7 victory.
He had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line, zero touchbacks and no punts returned. Karoll sailed a 66-yard punt that was downed at the 2-yard line midway through the fourth quarter with the Red Raiders leading 15-7. Colorado was intercepted in its own end zone on the next play. Earlier in the contest, Karoll booted a season-best 67-yard punt that was downed at Colorado's 13-yard line. Two plays later, Texas Tech's defense intercepted a pass in Colorado territory that was later converted into a field goal.
Karoll, one of eight Ray's 8 honorees for Week Five, was joined by Jakob Anderson (Rutgers), Hunter Green (Washington), Bryan Hansen (West Virginia), Patrick Rea (James Madison), Jackson Ross (Tennessee), Daniel Sparks (Virginia) and Oliver Straw (UAB).
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 are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, 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.
Ray's 8 features eight standout punters from the previous week's games who are eligible to be selected as the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. The Ray Guy Award Committee determines both the Ray's 8 selections and the weekly winner. Karoll was previously selected to Ray's 8 in Weeks Two and Four.
Karoll was also named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday for his Week Five performance at Colorado after punting three times for a net average of 55.7 yards in the Red Raiders' 29-7 victory.
He had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line, zero touchbacks and no punts returned. Karoll sailed a 66-yard punt that was downed at the 2-yard line midway through the fourth quarter with the Red Raiders leading 15-7. Colorado was intercepted in its own end zone on the next play. Earlier in the contest, Karoll booted a season-best 67-yard punt that was downed at Colorado's 13-yard line. Two plays later, Texas Tech's defense intercepted a pass in Colorado territory that was later converted into a field goal.
Karoll, one of eight Ray's 8 honorees for Week Five, was joined by Jakob Anderson (Rutgers), Hunter Green (Washington), Bryan Hansen (West Virginia), Patrick Rea (James Madison), Jackson Ross (Tennessee), Daniel Sparks (Virginia) and Oliver Straw (UAB).
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 are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, 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.
Players Mentioned
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