Eastern Michigan Athletics
Zach Johnson on Ray Guy Preseason Watch List
8/6/2007 9:58:54 AM | Football
Redshirt sophomore was a semifinalist in 2006
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University redshirt sophomore punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) has been named to the 2007 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List. He was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2006 award, won by Daniel Sepulveda of Baylor.
Joining Johnson on this year’s preseason watch list are Durant Brooks (Georgia Tech-Sr.), Geoff Price (Notre Dame-Sr.), Louie Sakoda (Utah-Jr.) and Sam Swank (Wake Forest-Jr.).
The Ray Guy Award is presented to the nation’s best collegiate punter as determined by a national selection committee comprised of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, former punters and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Among the statistics used to identify the Ray Guy Award winner are total yardage punted, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, net average, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. It is also of importance for the award winner to display team leadership, self-discipline, and to have a positive impact on the team’s success.
The Ray Guy Award Watch List will be expanded after the start of the season when statistical figures can be added. The national voting body will then vote for the top three finalists who will be announced at the end of November. In December the top three finalists will be in Orlando, Fla. for the Home Depot College Football awards show. The winner will be announced live on ESPN.
Johnson, who spent the entire 2006 season as the holder on field goal and PAT kick attempts, was the starting punter in the last 11 games of the season. Senior Andrew Wellock (Canton, Ohio-Green) was the returning field-goal kicker and punter when the 2006 season opened and he started the first game of the 2006 season at both positions.
Johnson was then called upon to take over the punting chores in game two and quickly established himself as one of the top punters in the NCAA Division I ranks. He finished the season with a 40.0 yard average, punting 65 times for 2,603 yards, including dropping 20 punts inside the 20-yard line. He was named an honorable mention Freshman All-American by The Sporting News.
Johnson and the rest of his Eagles’ teammates reported for fall training camp Sunday, Aug. 5, in preparation for the 2007 season. EMU is slated to open the season at Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 1. The Eagles’ home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8, when the Ball State University Cardinals invade Rynearson Stadium for a noon Mid-American Conference West Division battle. That game will also be highlighted by a salute to the 1987 EMU team that won the MAC championship and upset San Jose State in the California Bowl in Fresno, Calif.
