It feels crazy to think about, but since its inception in the year 2000, despite the numerous incredible punters that have come through the Michigan State football program, the Spartans have yet to have a punter win the Ray Guy Award, which is the award given to the top punter in college football. It's ironic, then, that in a year where MSU football has struggled in almost every other category, this could be the year they finally have a player win the coveted award, as Rhys Dakin has made the midseason watchlist for the Ray Guy Award.
Dakin followed special teams coordinator LeVar Woods over from Iowa this year and currently stands as the leader in the Big Ten for yards per punt, and he is number two in 50-yard punts. His longest punt this year was
an impressive 74 yards.
Some recent contenders for the award for MSU were Bryce Baringer and Ryan Eckley, but both players fell just short of earning the honor.
That’s our guy 🚀
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 5, 2026
Rhys has been named to the Ray Guy Midseason Watchlist pic.twitter.com/aanzrCot2X
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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State football punter named to Ray Guy Award watchlist
