Troy University Athletics
Evan Crenshaw Named Ray Guy Award Finalist
11/25/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – Troy junior punter Evan Crenshaw is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top punter. Crenshaw is the first finalist for the award in program history.
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A native of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Crenshaw leads all three finalists in stats under his control, including punting average (47.0), punts of 50-plus yards (20) and punts inside the 20-yard line (22). Troy ranks fifth nationally, averaging 43.83 net yards per punt; remove a 49-yard return at Old Dominion, and Troy jumps to first in the country in net punting by a yard.
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Crenshaw has more 50-yard punts (20) than the other two finalists combined (19) and just three fewer punts inside the 20-yard line (25 to 22).
The voting body will have the opportunity to vote to determine the 2025 Ray Guy Award winner starting today at 3 p.m. ET. The winner will be announced live on Friday, December 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The finalists were selected from a field of 10 semifinalists by a national voting body consisting of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners. The Ray Guy Award - named for football's premier punter - honors the nation's best collegiate punter in the FBS. The voting body will have the opportunity to vote to determine the 2025 Ray Guy Award winner, who will be announced live on Friday, December 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans for one of the three finalists. The Fan Vote will be located on the Ray Guy Award website beginning Tuesday at 2 p.m. and is equivalent to one national selection committee member's vote. Â
Crenshaw was twice named to the Ray Guy Ray's 8 this season and was named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week for his efforts in Troy's win at Buffalo, where he punted five times in Troy's come-from-behind victory at Buffalo, averaging 52.2 yards per punt. Three of his five kicks traveled 50-plus yards, and three were downed inside the Bulls' 20-yard line. Crenshaw's shortest kick of the game was a 43-yard boot, which was downed at the 8-yard line.
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His biggest kick of the night set up Troy's game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-14 with 4:07 to play, head coach Gerad Parker elected to send Crenshaw and the punting team on the field. He responded with a perfect 53-yard punt that went out of bounds at the 10-yard line. Troy's defense forced a three-and-out, and the Trojans took over at midfield and nine plays later, Tae Meadows danced into the end zone for the game-winning score.
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Crenshaw has completely flipped Troy's punting game from a year ago, when the Trojans had just one punt of 50-plus yards and 11 punts inside the 20-yard line. Additionally, Troy's average yard-per-punt has increased by more than 10 yards and its net average by nine yards per punt.
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Ray Guy Award Finalists
Evan Crenshaw, Troy – 47.00 avg., 20 50+, 22 I20, 43.83 net, 4.73 punts per game
Palmer Williams, Baylor – 46.84 avg., 10 50+, 10 I20, 44.92 net, 2.27 punts per game
Brett Thorson, Georgia – 44.45 avg., 9 50+, 15 I20, 42.50 net, 2.82 punts per game
TROY, Ala. – Troy junior punter Evan Crenshaw is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top punter. Crenshaw is the first finalist for the award in program history.
Â
A native of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Crenshaw leads all three finalists in stats under his control, including punting average (47.0), punts of 50-plus yards (20) and punts inside the 20-yard line (22). Troy ranks fifth nationally, averaging 43.83 net yards per punt; remove a 49-yard return at Old Dominion, and Troy jumps to first in the country in net punting by a yard.
Â
Crenshaw has more 50-yard punts (20) than the other two finalists combined (19) and just three fewer punts inside the 20-yard line (25 to 22).
The voting body will have the opportunity to vote to determine the 2025 Ray Guy Award winner starting today at 3 p.m. ET. The winner will be announced live on Friday, December 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The finalists were selected from a field of 10 semifinalists by a national voting body consisting of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners. The Ray Guy Award - named for football's premier punter - honors the nation's best collegiate punter in the FBS. The voting body will have the opportunity to vote to determine the 2025 Ray Guy Award winner, who will be announced live on Friday, December 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Ray Guy Award will provide one additional vote as determined by football fans for one of the three finalists. The Fan Vote will be located on the Ray Guy Award website beginning Tuesday at 2 p.m. and is equivalent to one national selection committee member's vote. Â
Crenshaw was twice named to the Ray Guy Ray's 8 this season and was named the Ray Guy National Punter of the Week for his efforts in Troy's win at Buffalo, where he punted five times in Troy's come-from-behind victory at Buffalo, averaging 52.2 yards per punt. Three of his five kicks traveled 50-plus yards, and three were downed inside the Bulls' 20-yard line. Crenshaw's shortest kick of the game was a 43-yard boot, which was downed at the 8-yard line.
Â
His biggest kick of the night set up Troy's game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-14 with 4:07 to play, head coach Gerad Parker elected to send Crenshaw and the punting team on the field. He responded with a perfect 53-yard punt that went out of bounds at the 10-yard line. Troy's defense forced a three-and-out, and the Trojans took over at midfield and nine plays later, Tae Meadows danced into the end zone for the game-winning score.
Â
Crenshaw has completely flipped Troy's punting game from a year ago, when the Trojans had just one punt of 50-plus yards and 11 punts inside the 20-yard line. Additionally, Troy's average yard-per-punt has increased by more than 10 yards and its net average by nine yards per punt.
Â
Ray Guy Award Finalists
Evan Crenshaw, Troy – 47.00 avg., 20 50+, 22 I20, 43.83 net, 4.73 punts per game
Palmer Williams, Baylor – 46.84 avg., 10 50+, 10 I20, 44.92 net, 2.27 punts per game
Brett Thorson, Georgia – 44.45 avg., 9 50+, 15 I20, 42.50 net, 2.82 punts per game
Players Mentioned
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