Oct. 25, 2013
AUGUSTA, Ga. - San Diego State junior punter Joel Alesi (El Cajon, Calif.) was selected as a nominee for the 2013 Ray Guy Award, which identifies the nation's top punter, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Friday.
Alesi has punted 24 times this season with a long of 56 yards and an average of 42.4 yards, which ranks fourth in the Mountain West and 38th in the nation. He's recorded seven punts of at least 50 yards, with seven landing inside the opponent's 20-yard-line, five inside the 10 and two inside the 5.
Only five of Alesi's punts this season have been returned, and his 42.6 yard career average in 30 punts would rank fifth in SDSU history if he had enough attempts to qualify.
The junior is the fourth Aztec to be a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, which was created in 2000 in honor of NFL great Ray Guy. Former SDSU standout Brian Stahovich was a three-time nominee for the award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
The list of 85 punters will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 8, while a national body of Football Subdivision sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will select the top three finalists on Nov. 25. The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.