Texas Tech University Athletics
Panazzolo Named Semifinalist for Ray Guy Award
November 15, 2018 | Football
Panazzolo becomes third Red Raider to be named a national awards semifinalist this season
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior Dominic Panazzolo was named one of 10 semifinalists Thursday for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top punter.
Panazzolo becomes the third Red Raider to be named an awards semifinalist this year, joining fellow specialist Clayton Hatfield (Lou Groza Award) and wide receiver Antoine Wesley (Biletnikoff Award). All three will learn their fate for the Home Depot College Football Awards Show early next week.
Texas Tech is one of only three schools nationally to boast a semifinalist for both the top special teams trophies in the Ray Guy Award and the Lou Groza Award, joining Utah and Florida.
Panazzolo has been among the most accurate punters in the country this season as he's downed 20 or his 46 punts this season inside the 20. He is averaging 42.5 yards per punt, nearly a full yard above his clip from his 2017 debut season.
Most importantly, the Australian native has limited opponents to only four returns this season, which ranks tied for second among teams nationally entering this weekend. Opponents are only averaging 4.8 yards per return as Tech ranks 15th nationally in net punting average (40.76) and 22nd in punt return defense.
Panazzolo earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Oct. 15 after downing two punts inside the 5 during the fourth quarter of Tech's 17-14 win at TCU. His final punt of the night was downed by De'Quan Bowman at the TCU 2-yard line, forcing TCU to go the length of the field with just over two minutes remaining.
The Ray Guy Award is selected by a voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners. Punters are evaluated on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis is placed on the following statistics: net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20-yard line, percentage of punts not returns, number of punts and gross average.
Panazzolo and the Red Raiders return to the road this Saturday as Tech faces Kansas State in a 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. Coverage will be provided nationally on ESPNU and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
One of ?? semifinalists to be named the best in the nation.#LetsRide, mate!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 15, 2018
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