Hyams Named to Ray Guy Midseason Watch List
The Wake Forest freshman punter is among 63 candidates on the midseason list for the nation's top punter award.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
Wake Forest freshman punter Ethan Hyams was named to the Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List, which includes 63 candidates. The Ray Guy Award committee will reveal ten semifinalists on November 13.
Why it matters
The Ray Guy Award is the top honor for college punters, and Hyams's selection reflects his performance as a freshman for Wake Forest. Inclusion on the watch list places him among the candidates still under consideration for the award's later rounds.
Hyams averages 45.7 yards per punt this season and has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line seven times, with four punts traveling over 50 yards. Wake Forest also holds opponents to 1.33 yards per return, the sixth-best mark in the FBS.
The players
Ethan Hyams
Ethan Hyams is a freshman punter for Wake Forest who is originally from Castle Hill, Australia.
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is an annual honor recognizing the nation's top college punter, named after the Thomson, Georgia native and NFL Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy.
Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council is the Augusta, Georgia-based organization that created the Ray Guy Award.
The details
The Ray Guy Award is selected by a national voting body of FBS sports information directors, media representatives and previous award winners, which names three finalists before a second ballot chooses the nation's top punter. Hyams's standout performance included a 70-yard punt in the September 26 win over No. 16 Louisville.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: Hyams recorded a 70-yard punt in the win over No. 16 Louisville.
November 6, 2026: Hyams was named to the Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List.
November 13, 2026: The committee will reveal ten semifinalists.
December 11, 2026: The Ray Guy Award winner will be announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Season Trajectory
The Ray Guy Award sits within the NCFAA awards tradition, which began honoring recipients in 1935 and has recognized nearly 1,000 players. Hyams's candidacy as a freshman places him in a long line of award recognition for college football's specialists.
Fantasy and college football followers tracking specialists can use the watch-list status as a marker for Hyams's season trajectory. The November 13 semifinalist announcement will show which candidates remain in contention for the award.
The takeaway
Hyams's punting numbers, including four punts over 50 yards and a 70-yard boot against Louisville, show why specialists can shape field position as much as offensive stars. Following the November 13 semifinalist list will reveal whether his freshman season earns him a finalist spot.
What happens next
The Ray Guy Award committee will reveal ten semifinalists on November 13, 2026, and the winner will be announced December 11, 2026, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Further reading
For more on the Wake Forest program, see Football coverage in Winston-Salem.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Greensboro News and Record.
