University of Tennessee Athletics
Colquitt Named as Ray Guy Award Semifinalist
November 12, 2003 | Football
Nov. 12, 2003
Tennessee junior Dustin Colquitt was named Wednesday by the Greater Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council one of 10 semifinalists for the fourth annual Ray Guy Award, recognizing the nation's top collegiate punter. Colquitt was a Ray Guy Award finalist in 2002.
The All-America candidate has punted 50 times this season for a 46.2-yard average that leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks fifth in Division I-A. Seventeen times his punts have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, with nine inside the 10 and four inside the 5.
"I don't know of anybody in the country at the punting position who's impacted a team more than Dustin has," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I don't have a vote but if I had one I'd vote him as the top punter in America as far as a guy who has changed games for us."
Tennessee leads the SEC and is fourth nationally in net punting with a 42.4-yard average. Opponents have tried 26 returns for a 7.0-yard average and long of 21.
Colquitt twice has been named the SEC's Special Teams Player of the Week.
His most recent honor came after the Sept. 27 South Carolina game when he had a career-high five punts of 50 yards or more for a 51.7-yard average, including a 63-yarder. Even more impressive was the fact he placed four of his seven boots inside the 20-yard line with three settling inside the 5. He forced the Gamecocks to start consecutive drives from their 2- and 1-yard lines in the third quarter.
"No question, Dustin won that ballgame," Fulmer said. "He was special that night. We had field position and South Carolina didn't throughout the ballgame because of Dustin."
Colquitt also earned player of the week honors following UT's Sept. 6 win over Marshall when he punted four times for a 50.8-yard average that included a 63-yarder. He twice pinned Marshall deep, turning the field position battle in Tennessee's favor. Two of his punts were downed at the 4- and 3-yard lines.
"Dustin Colquitt is a player, he's a difference maker," Fulmer said following Saturday's win at Miami. Colquitt helped preserve the 10-6 victory in the final minutes with a 56-yard punt into the breeze that hugged the sideline and was fumbled for a Tennessee recovery.
The Knoxville native stands second on UT's all-time punting list with a career 43.2-yard average that trails only his cousin, Jimmy (43.9), and just ahead of his father, Craig (42.5). Craig punted for the Vols from 1975-77 before a seven-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Jimmy lettered at UT from 1981-84 prior to a brief NFL stay with the Seattle Seahawks.
Each of the 42 punters on the initial 2003 Ray Guy watch list was evaluated on his overall statistics and contribution to his team, with emphasis placed on the following categories: net average, percentage of total punts inside the 20, average return yardage and percentage not returned.
These components are what made Ray Guy, the award's namesake, an All-Pro punter for the Oakland Raiders from 1973-86. Guy is a native of the Augusta area and currently resides in Thomson, Ga.
The 2003 Ray Guy Award recipient will be announced Dec. 11 on the ESPN College Football Awards Show. The winner will be honored again Feb. 5 at the Greater Augusta Sports Awards Gala in Augusta.
| Ray Guy Award Semifinalists | ||
| NOMINEE | SCHOOL | CLASS |
| Kyle Basler | Washington State | Sophomore |
| Vinnie Burns | Virginia Tech | Junior |
| Dustin Colquitt | Tennessee | Junior |
| Donnie Jones | Louisiana State | Senior |
| Kyle Larson | Nebraska | Senior |
| Andy Lee | Pittsburgh | Senior |
| Tom Malone | Southern California | Sophomore |
| Adam Podlesh | Maryland | Sophomore |
| Matt Prater | UCF | Sophomore |
| BJ Sander | Ohio State | Senior |
