Kansas punter and kickoff specialist Trevor Pardula was named a nominee for the 2013 Ray Guy Award, which recognizes the nation’s top punter. Pardula, a junior from San Jose, Calif., is one of 85 candidates for the award, which is presented by the Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council.
Through six games, Pardula ranks second in the Big 12 and 10th nationally in punting with an average of 44.8 yards per punt. Pardula has placed nine punts inside the 20 and recorded 14 punts of 50 yards or more, including a career-best 78-yard punt against Louisiana Tech. That punt tied for eighth-longest in school history and helped catapult Pardula to a KU single game record 57.6 yards on five punts in the win.
A 6-foot-5, junior college transfer from De Anza College, Pardula has consistently helped Kansas in the field position battle and punted 10 times in the Jayhawks’ game against TCU. Against the Horned Frogs Pardula averaged 46.2 yards per punt, including five punts of 50 yards or longer.
Pardula also serves as the Jayhawks’ kickoff specialist and has 16 touchbacks, more than the entire total from last season, in 25 attempts.
The Ray Guy Award list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists to be announced on November 8. Following the semi-finalists announcement, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists, who will be identified on November 25. The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner.
The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team.
Kansas returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 26, when it plays host to No. 5/6 Baylor. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m., at Memorial Stadium, with a live broadcast on ESPNU.
— KU Sports Information —