• FCS Punter of the Year Website
The OVC players are among the 10 semifinalists for the 2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award, as announced by the August Sports Council. The picks were Eastern Illinois sophomore
Trey Wilhoit and Southeast Missouri State junior
Zach Haynes.
The semifinalists were chosen from a field of 30 nominated candidates.
The candidates were evaluated by the FCS Punter of the Year Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, number of times a punt was downed or kicked out-of-bounds in-side the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) sports information directors, conference representatives and sports writers will choose the winner from our top 10 semifinalists. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 13.
Wilhoit was a first-team All-OVC selection in his first year with the EIU program. During the regular season he ranked fifth nationally in punting (44.0 yards/punt). In total had 53 punts for 2,230 yards, with a long of 62 yards. Wilhoit had 12 punts of 50-plus yards and 14 that were downed inside the 20-yard line with only five touchbacks.
Haynes averaged 39.0 yards/punt on 41 attempts in 2022. The junior had a long punt of 59 yards and 19 downed inside the 20-yard line with only two touchbacks.
2022 FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalists
Aaron Trusler, Richmond
Austin Dunlap, Southeastern Louisiana
Bradley Porcellato, Samford
Corey Petersen, Campbell
Jake Gerardi, Southern Utah
Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross
Patrick Rohrbach, Montana
Trey Wilhoit, Eastern Illinois
Will Whitehurst, William & Mary
Zach Haynes, Southeast Missouri
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. Among the statistics used to identi-fy 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 yard-age and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punt-ing average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a posi-tive impact on the team's success.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) enriches the quality of life and economic well-being for the Augusta metropolitan area by supporting and attracting sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.