Bigelow Named 2024 FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist
December 04, 2024 | Football
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Senior punter Nick Bigelow of the Gardner-Webb University football team has been named a semifinalist for the Augusta Sports Council 2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award as announced by the league this afternoon.
Bigelow was a staple for the Runnin' Bulldogs special teams corps this past year after recording 47 punts for 1,953 yards, an average of 39.51 yards per kick. Bigelow also carried a season-long punt of 62 yards while pinning the opponent inside the 20-yard line on 24 occasions. Opposing teams called for a fair catch 18 times and mustered only 96 return yards on 11 attempts.
The candidates were evaluated by the FCS Punter of the Year Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, number of times a punt was downed or kicked out-of-bounds inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) sports information directors, conference representatives and sports writers will choose the winner from the 10 semifinalists. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 16.
2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalists
Aaron Trusler, Richmond
Albert Jang, Penn
Ben D'Aquila, Northern Arizona
Brendan Hall, Montana State
Brendon Kilpatrick, Youngstown State
John McConnell, Mercer
Nick Bigelow, Gardner-Webb
Oscar Doyle, Weber State
Sam Johnson, Valpo
Thomas O'Hara, Murray State
2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award Schedule
8/3 - Nominations Open
11/24 - Nominations Close at noon ET
12/4 - Semifinalists Announced at noon ET
12/5 - Voting for Winner Opens at noon ET
12/15 - Voting for Winner Closes at noon ET
12/16 - 2024 Winner Announced at noon ET
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) supports the many facets of local, national, and international sporting events that contribute to our community's quality of life and economic development. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.
Bigelow was a staple for the Runnin' Bulldogs special teams corps this past year after recording 47 punts for 1,953 yards, an average of 39.51 yards per kick. Bigelow also carried a season-long punt of 62 yards while pinning the opponent inside the 20-yard line on 24 occasions. Opposing teams called for a fair catch 18 times and mustered only 96 return yards on 11 attempts.
The candidates were evaluated by the FCS Punter of the Year Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Particular emphasis was placed on net punting average, number of times a punt was downed or kicked out-of-bounds inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
A national voting body of Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) sports information directors, conference representatives and sports writers will choose the winner from the 10 semifinalists. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 16.
2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalists
Aaron Trusler, Richmond
Albert Jang, Penn
Ben D'Aquila, Northern Arizona
Brendan Hall, Montana State
Brendon Kilpatrick, Youngstown State
John McConnell, Mercer
Nick Bigelow, Gardner-Webb
Oscar Doyle, Weber State
Sam Johnson, Valpo
Thomas O'Hara, Murray State
2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award Schedule
8/3 - Nominations Open
11/24 - Nominations Close at noon ET
12/4 - Semifinalists Announced at noon ET
12/5 - Voting for Winner Opens at noon ET
12/15 - Voting for Winner Closes at noon ET
12/16 - 2024 Winner Announced at noon ET
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) supports the many facets of local, national, and international sporting events that contribute to our community's quality of life and economic development. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.
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