Courtesy of Utah State Athletics

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State senior punter Stephen Kotsanlee has been named to the 2023 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List, it was announced Wednesday by the Augusta Sports Council (ASC).

The Ray Guy Award, created by the ASC in 2000, honors the nation’s best collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Kotsanlee is one of four players from the Mountain West named to the 50-player list, along with New Mexico’s Aaron Rodriguez, Wyoming’s Clayton Stewart and San Diego State’s Jack Browning.

He is the only player from the Beehive State on the list.

Kotsanlee served as Utah State’s punter and holder on extra points and field goals in all 13 games during the 2022 campaign, punting 67 times for an average of 43.4 yards per punt, which is the sixth-best single-season punting average in school history. With that average, he ranked fourth in the MW and 38th in the nation.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Melbourne, Australia, was tabbed the MW Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career following his performance at Colorado State last season as he punted five times for an average of 47.2 yards with three 50-yard punts (58, 55, 59), to go along with one punt being downed inside the 20-yard line.

Of Kotsanlee’s 67 punts last year, 22 went for 50 yards or more, 24 were downed inside the 20-yard line, 16 were fair caught and eight resulted in a touchback.

Kotsanlee, who is also a preseason third-team all-MW selection by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele, has punted 157 times in his career for an average of 42.5 yards per punt, which is the fifth-best punting average in school history.

In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the 10 semifinalists, who will be announced on Nov. 10. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top-three finalists to be announced on Nov. 22.

After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation’s top punter. The winner will be announced in December of 2023, as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Utah State opens the 2023 season at Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 2, while its home opener is the following weekend against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 9. USU begins Mountain West play at Air Force on Saturday, Sept. 16.

Season ticket renewals are currently being accepted. To renew, fans should visit www.utahstateaggies.com, or do so in person or by phone through the USU Ticket Office during regular business hours (435-797-0305). New season ticket orders can also be made.

For more information on the Utah State football program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUFootball, on Facebook at USUFootball and on Instagram at USUFootball.

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