Stainton Named to Ray Guy Watch List
8/14/2026 11:56:00 AM | Football
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Miami's Pierse Stainton was named to the Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List on Thursday morning.
Stainton averaged 42.3 yards per punt a year ago, recording just three touchbacks on 63 attempts. He added 12 punts of over 50 yards and downed an additional 12 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
The candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FBS punters and were compiled based on previous Ray Guy Award Semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American, and Preseason All-Conference selections.
This is not a final list as the winner of the Ray Guy Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list. The number of eligible candidates for the award will grow when the award opens nominations. A final watch list will be announced in early November, and the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists in mid-November.
A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced in late November. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December.
Stainton averaged 42.3 yards per punt a year ago, recording just three touchbacks on 63 attempts. He added 12 punts of over 50 yards and downed an additional 12 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
The candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FBS punters and were compiled based on previous Ray Guy Award Semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American, and Preseason All-Conference selections.
This is not a final list as the winner of the Ray Guy Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list. The number of eligible candidates for the award will grow when the award opens nominations. A final watch list will be announced in early November, and the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the ten semifinalists in mid-November.
A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists to be announced in late November. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation's top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December.
Players Mentioned
Punter
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