Texas Tech University Athletics
McNamara among Red Raider individual honors this week
October 10, 2023 | Football
Texas Tech punter is currently on pace to snap both the Texas Tech and Big 12 single-season and career records this season
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior punter Austin McNamara was named the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week on Tuesday following his performance this past weekend in the win over Baylor.
McNamara was called on only three times to punt against the Bears as he placed Baylor at the 6, 11 and 7 yard lines following fair catches. The Bears were unable to get past midfield on any of the three ensuing drives as the Red Raiders delivered two quick stops defensively (of those three) that resulted in Texas Tech getting the ball back either near midfield (its own 41) or in the red zone.
The field-position game resulted in 10 points for the Red Raiders thanks to McNamara's knack for pinning opponents deep in their own territory. Of his nine punts downed inside the 20 this season, eight of those have resulted in opposing drives starting at the 11-yard line or closer.
McNamara averaged 48.0 yards per punt against Baylor as he continues to rank among the best punters in college football this season. McNamara is averaging 48.7 yards per punt on the year, which ranks fourth in the FBS and second in the Big 12 heading into this Saturday's Homecoming contest with Kansas State. That average would snap his own Texas Tech and Big 12 single-season records of 48.2 yards per punt that was set as a junior in 2021.
As a team, the Red Raiders rank 12th in the FBS and second in the Big 12 for net punting with a 43.3 average through the front half of the season. That average is helped, in part, to opponents only returning four of McNamara's 23 attempts so far this season. He has booted 12 punts, in total, this season at least 50 yards in length.
For his career, McNamara is averaging 46.1 yards per punt, which is on pace to snap both the Texas Tech and Big 12 records. Quinn Sharp of Oklahoma State set the Big 12 record in 2012 after averaging 45.9 yards per punt over his career. The Texas Tech career record was set by Taylor Symmank in 2015 after he averaged 43.7 yards a punt over his four-year career. McNamara's current career average would rank sixth all-time in NCAA FBS history among punters with 150 to 249 career punts if the season ended today.
McNamara is one of several Red Raiders to be recognized thus far this week. That list includes senior outside linebacker Steve Linton, who was tabbed both the Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week as well as the East-West Shrine Bowl Texas Star of the Week after recording three sacks against Baylor.
Below is a full list of other accolades that have come in through Tuesday afternoon.
TEXAS TECH INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Tahj Brooks – Doak Walker Award Running Back of the Week Honorable Mention
Baylor Cupp – Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention Player of the Week
Behren Morton - Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention Player of the Week
Steve Linton – East-West Shrine Bowl Texas Star of the Week
Steve Linton – Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week
