November 13, 2026 | Football
AUGUSTA, Ga. โย The Augusta Sports Council announced Friday that Texas Tech senior Will Karoll was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2026 Ray Guy Award. Named for football's premier punter, the award honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
In his first season at Texas Tech, Karoll has made an immediate impact, helping the special teams unit flip field position with a punting average of 46.3 yards per attempt. That mark ranks third in Texas Tech single-season history, trailing only the 48.2 average recorded by current New York Jets punter Austin McNamara in 2021 and the 46.8 average posted by Mark Bounds in 1991.
Karoll has booted 12 of his 32 punts at least 50 yards this season, including averages of 58.7 yards per punt against Houston and 55.7 at Colorado. His performance against Houston marked the highest punting average in a Big 12 game (min. three attempts) since Kansas State's Ty Zentner averaged 62.7 yards per punt on three attempts against Kansas in 2022.
He has helped bolster a Red Raider special teams unit that ranks 20th nationally in net punting, averaging 42.6 yards per punt.
Nominees were evaluated on their overall statistics, with value placed on net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must also display team leadership, self-discipline and a positive impact on the team's success.
Karoll is a four-time "Ray's 8" honoree this season, a weekly honor roll presented by the Ray Guy Award, and was its Week 5 national punter of the week. He is also a three-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week and was named a midseason All-American by three organizations: The Athletic, the Associated Press and CBS Sports.
Three finalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 24. Following that announcement, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11.
2026 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
In his first season at Texas Tech, Karoll has made an immediate impact, helping the special teams unit flip field position with a punting average of 46.3 yards per attempt. That mark ranks third in Texas Tech single-season history, trailing only the 48.2 average recorded by current New York Jets punter Austin McNamara in 2021 and the 46.8 average posted by Mark Bounds in 1991.
Karoll has booted 12 of his 32 punts at least 50 yards this season, including averages of 58.7 yards per punt against Houston and 55.7 at Colorado. His performance against Houston marked the highest punting average in a Big 12 game (min. three attempts) since Kansas State's Ty Zentner averaged 62.7 yards per punt on three attempts against Kansas in 2022.
He has helped bolster a Red Raider special teams unit that ranks 20th nationally in net punting, averaging 42.6 yards per punt.
Nominees were evaluated on their overall statistics, with value placed on net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must also display team leadership, self-discipline and a positive impact on the team's success.
Karoll is a four-time "Ray's 8" honoree this season, a weekly honor roll presented by the Ray Guy Award, and was its Week 5 national punter of the week. He is also a three-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week and was named a midseason All-American by three organizations: The Athletic, the Associated Press and CBS Sports.
Three finalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 24. Following that announcement, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11.
2026 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
- Bailey Ettridge, Oregon, Sophomore
- Max Fletcher, Cincinnati, Fifth Year
- Ethan Hyams, Wake Forest, Freshman
- Will Karoll, Texas Tech, Senior
- Simon McClannan, Kansas State, Senior
- Fuller Shurtz, BYU, RS-Junior
- James Wagenseller, Army, Senior
- Tyler White, Texas A&M, Senior
- Palmer Williams, Baylor, Senior
- Archie Wilson, Nebraska, Sophomore
Players Mentioned
P
/ FootballThursday, November 12
Tuesday, November 10
Tuesday, November 10
Tuesday, November 10