WKU Football’s punter, Cole Maynard, has been named to the 2024 Ray Guy Award Watchlist, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Tuesday. The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to the top collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Maynard made his Hilltopper debut in the season opener against No. 5 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where he averaged 44.8 yards on nine punts, including a long of 54 yards and two others over 50 yards.
The redshirt junior from Mooresville, North Carolina, transferred to WKU during the offseason after spending three seasons at North Carolina. During his final year with the Tar Heels, Maynard appeared in 11 games, primarily as the holder for field goals and PATs, helping UNC kickers go 22-of-24 on field goals and a perfect 51-of-51 on PATs. He also punted once for 39 yards against Virginia. In 2022, he was the primary holder in all 14 games and punted once against Virginia Tech. He made his collegiate debut as a true freshman in 2021, punting once for 46 yards against Georgia State.
Maynard’s football lineage includes his father, Brad Maynard, who enjoyed a 15-year NFL career as a punter with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Cleveland Browns. His mother, Karen Maynard, was an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, and his brother, Conner Maynard, is a punter at Appalachian State.
The Ray Guy Award Preseason Watchlist initially featured 33 candidates when released on August 2, with three additional candidates, including Maynard, added on Tuesday. The full list of candidates will be announced on November 6. The award committee will select ten semifinalists in mid-November, with the announcement on November 15. A national panel of FBS sports information directors, media representatives, and former Ray Guy Award winners will vote to determine the three finalists, who will be announced on November 26. The winner will be revealed live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December 2024.
WKU will return to action against Eastern Kentucky for their home opener at Houchens-Smith Stadium on Saturday, September 7, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT.
