Dyer Named a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tyson Dyer, a junior punter for the University of New Mexico who has only played football for three years, was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best punter.
Dyer is trying to become UNM’s first Ray Guy Award finalist, and he is UNM’s second national semifinalist in as many weeks. On November 5 Teton Seltes was named a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.
It marked the second time in the last three seasons that the Lobos have had a Ray Guy Award semifinalist as Corey Bojorquez earned the honor in 2017. Bojorquez has served as the starting punter for the Buffalo Bills for the last two years.
Joining Dyer as semifinalists are Adam Korsak of Rutgers, Dane Roy of Houston, Joseph Charlton of South Carolina, Max Duffy of Kentucky, Michael Turk of Arizona State, Oscar Bradburn of Virginia Tech, Owen White of Navy, Sterling Hofrichter of Syracuse and Tommy Townsend of Florida. Of those 10, only Dyer and Roy were named CoSIDA Academic All-District, both from District 6.
Dyer is 12th nationally in gross average at 45.9 yards on 50 punts. Dyer leads the nation with 31 punts inside the 20-yard line, and he also leads the nation in percentage of punts inside the 20, with 62.0%. That percentage is the third-best in the nation in the last seven seasons. Dyer also has a run for a first down on a fake punt, and he is also the holder for all UNM placements.
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 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.