Florida football standout punter Alec Clark earned national recognition for his performance this season, landing a spot on the Ray Guy Award midseason watch list, the Augusta Sports Council announced Thursday.
The fourth-year transfer from Tulane is among 63 punters selected from an initial pool of 100 nominees for the award, which annually recognizes the nation's top collegiate punter.
Evaluators assessed candidates on several statistical categories, including net punting average, percentage of punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned.
In his first season with the Gators, the Australian punter has established himself as one of the SEC's most productive specialists. Through eight games, Clark has recorded 26 punts
for 1,248 yards, averaging 48 yards per attempt.
11 of his punts have landed inside the 20-yard line, while 10 have traveled at least 50 yards.
Clark's 42.46-yard net punting average ranks third in the SEC and 19th nationally, highlighting his ability to consistently flip field position for Florida.
One of Clark's strongest performances came against then-No. 7 Texas, when he totaled 311 yards on six punts, averaging 51.83 yards per attempt. He also delivered a career-long 75-yard punt, with two attempts traveling at least 50 yards and two landing inside the 20-yard line.
The Ray Guy Award committee will narrow the field to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 13, then select three finalists through a national voting process. The winner will be announced Dec. 11 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Clark and Gators return to action Nov. 7, hosting Oklahoma at 7:45 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida punter Clark named to Ray Guy Award midseason watch list
