AUGUSTA, Ga. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison punter Ryan Hanson has been named to the 2024 preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, as announced Friday by the Augusta Sports Council.

The Ray Guy Award honors the nation’s top collegiate punter at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

The Elgin, Texas, native is one of 34 FBS punters and the lone student-athlete from the Sun Belt Conference to be recognized on the initial list.

It’s also the fifth time Hanson has been named to the Ray Guy Award watch list with three years at Arkansas State (2020-22) and two at JMU (2023-24). He’s one of just four players named to the watch list every year of their respective careers, as he’s joined by Wake Forest’s Ivan Mora, South Carolina’s Kai Kroeger and Cal’s Lachlan Wilson.

Last season, Hanson was a Second Team All-American from College Football Network and a Second Team All-Sun Belt and VaSID All-State selection. He averaged 40.6 yards per punt on his 59 attempts while pinning 29 punts inside the 20 with only two touchbacks.

In his career, Hanson has a 42.4 career punt average with 80 boots inside the 20 with only seven touchbacks.

The watch list number will grow throughout the season, and semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced on Nov. 15. The national body of voters will narrow it to three finalists on Nov. 26. The winner of the 2024 award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 12.

2024 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List
Alec Bevelhimer, Miami (OH)
Lucas Borrow, Ball State
Jack Browning, San Diego State
Jack Bouwmeester, Utah
James Burnip, Alabama
Brian Buschini, Nebraska
Oscar Chapman, Auburn
Eddie Czaplicki, USC
Jack Dawson, Jax State
Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
Luke Elzinga, Oklahoma
James Evans, Indiana
Mason Fletcher, Cincinnati
Nick Haberer, Washington State
Ryan Hanson, James Madison
Stephen Kotsanlee, Utah State
Kai Kroeger, South Carolina
Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
Jesse Mirco, Vanderbilt
Daton Montiel, FIU
Peter Moore, Virginia Tech
Ivan Mora, Wake Forest
Marshall Nichols, UNLV
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State
Riley Riethman, Navy
Aaron Rodriguez, New Mexico
Daniel Sparks, Virginia
Oliver Straw, West Virginia
Riley Thompson, Penn State
Brett Thorson, Georgia
Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
Mark Vassett, Colorado
Lachlan Wilson, California

— JMU Athletics —