University of Alabama true freshman JK Scott has been named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award for punter of the year.
Scott is averaging school-record 47.1 yards per punt on 36 attempts, with 18 inside the 20-yard line. He’s had 14 punts go 50-plus yards and four 60-plus, with a career-best punt of 66 yards.
He’s also forced 10 fair catches, with the opposition totaling 50 punt-return yards for the season.
“Well, I don’t really want to take any credit for anything that we do because he could punt really well when he came here, but I think JK is very dedicated, really has a routine that he likes to stay in in terms of his workout, preparation, flexibility, strength and conditioning,” Coach Nick Saban said about Scott earlier this week. “In fact, we allow him to do exactly what he likes to do relative to what he thinks he needs to do to be able to maximize his ability as a specialist, as a punter and he is our backup kicker, and he’s done a really, really good job.
“You know one of the biggest challenges I think for specialists, and we’ve gone through this with several of our guys, sometimes good enough is good enough. don’t have to keep trying to get better. When you’re kicking every one of them 50 and 55 yards with a 5.0 (second) hang time, that’s good enough. You don’t really have to try to keep going. And he’s one of those guys who always really wants to try to do a little better and keep going. He’s done a great job for us and certainly changed field position in critical times in several games this year.”
Alabama has never had a player win the Ray Guy Award, but Cody Mandell was a semifinalist last season.
2014 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
JK Scott (Fr.), Alabama
Scott Arellano (Sr.), BYU
Scott Harding (Sr.), Hawaii
Austin Rehkow (So.), Idaho
Justin Vogel (So.), Miami
Tyler Wedel (Sr.), Northern Illinois
Cameron Johnston (So.), Ohio State
Drew Kaser (Jr.), Texas A&M
Tom Hackett (Jr.), Utah
Alex Kinal (Jr.), Wake Forest
With many awards announcing their semifinalists next week, here’s what the Crimson Tide is up for so far:
Semifinalists
- Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club): Landon Collins named semifinalist. Trey DePriest and A’Shawn Robinson were on the watch list. Finalists named Nov. 24.
- Butkus Award (best linebacker by the Butkus Foundation): Reggie Ragland named semifinalist. Trey DePriest was on watch list. Finalists named Nov. 24.
- Lott Impact Trophy (defensive best in character and performance by the Pacific Club Impact Foundation): Landon Collins named quarterfinalist. Finalists named in late November.
- Maxwell Award (player of the year by the Maxwell Club): Amari Cooper named semifinalist. Jacob Coker, Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon were on the watch list. Finalists named Nov. 24.
- Davey O’Brien Award (best quarterback by the Davey O’Brien Foundation): Blake Sims named semifinalist. Finalists named Nov. 24.
- Ray Guy Award (punter of the year) Augusta Sports Council): JK Scott named semifinalist. Finalists named Nov. 24.
- Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back by the Jim Thorpe Association): Landon Collins named semifinalist. Finalists announced Nov. 24.
Watch lists
Players
- Biletnikoff Award (outstanding wide receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club): Amari Cooper named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 17.
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy (outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte TD Club): Landon Collins, Trey DePriest, A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Finalists named Nov. 20.
- Doak Walker Award (premier running back by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum): T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 18.
- Mackey Award (outstanding tight end by Friends of John Mackey): O.J. Howard named to watch list. Semifinalists to be announced Nov. 17.
- Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman by the FWAA): Ryan Kelly, Arie Kouandjio and A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 20.
- Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player by the Louisville Sports Commission): Christion Jones named to watch list. Finalists announced in late November.
- Rimington Trophy (premier Center by the Boomer Esiason Foundation): Ryan Kelly named to watch list. Finalists named Dec. 8.
- Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end by the Ted Hendricks Foundation): A’Shawn Robinson named to watch list. Semifinalists announced in late November.
- Walter Camp Award (outstanding player by the Walter Camp Foundation): Landon Collins, Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon named to watch list. Semifinalists named Nov. 19.
To be announced
Heisman Memorial Trophy (most outstanding player by the Heisman Trophy Trust): Finalists named Dec. 8.
Burlsworth Trophy (outstanding player who began career as a walk-on by the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation): Semifinalists announced in November.
Awards Alabama players are not in the running
Lou Groza Award (top place-kicker by the Palm Beach Sports Commission)
Manning Award (best quarterback by the Sugar Bowl Committee)
Rotary Lombardi Award (lineman of the year by the Rotary Club of Houston): Arie Kouandjio and A’Shawn Robinson were on watch list.
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (top senior quarterback by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation): Jacob Coker was on watch list.
William V. Campbell Trophy (top scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation): Arie Kouandjio was a semifinalist.
Coaches awards
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year: Nick Saban named to watch list. Semifinalists named in November.
Broyles Award (most outstanding assistant coach by the Little Rock Rotary Club): Semifinalists named Nov. 27.
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award (by the FWAA): Finalists named Dec. 9.
Maxwell Football Club Coach of the Year Award: Semifinalists named Nov. 20.
Associated Press Coach of the Year
AFCA Coach of the Year
Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award
Home Depot Coach of the Year
Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year
Paul “Bear” Bryant Award
Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year
Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award
Alabama awards during the Nick Saban era (2007-2013)
Heisman Trophy: Mark Ingram (2009)
Maxwell Award: AJ McCarron (2013)
Doak Walker Award: Trent Richardson (2011)
Butkus Award: Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013)
Outland Trophy: Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011)
Rimington Trophy: Barrett Jones (2012)
Jim Parker Trophy: Andre Smith (2008)
Jack Lambert Trophy: Rolando McClain (2009)
Sporting News Player of the Year: Mark Ingram (2009)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: AJ McCarron (2013)
Wuerffel Trophy: Barrett Jones (2011)
William V. Campbell Trophy: Barrett Jones (2012)
Broyles Award: Kirby Smart (2009)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Bobby Bowden Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2009, 2011, 2012)
AP Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Home Depot Coach of the Year: Nick Saban (2008)
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
