Sparks Included on Ray Guy Award Watch List

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia punter Daniel Sparks was one of 50 punters featured on the Preseason Ray Guy Award Watch List on Wednesday (Aug. 2). The award is annually bestowed on the nation’s top collegiate punter in the FBS.

The 2023 watch list was compiled based on the 2022 Ray Guy Award Semifinalist List, the top ten NCAA Punters from 2022, the 2022 All-Conference teams, the 2022 All-American Teams, the 2023 pre-season All-Conference Teams and eligible punters on the 2022 watchlist.

Sparks was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022 and was the lone punter selected to the 2023 Preseason All-ACC team. Last season he matched the program’s single-season punting average record, led the ACC and finished eighth in the country with a 45.9 yards per kick.

Ray Guy Award Timeline
Nov. 3 – Award nominations open
Nov. 6 – Complete List of candidates released
Nov. 10 – List of 10 semifinalists announced
Nov. 22 – Three finalists named
Dec. 7 – Winner announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards

*After the Ray Guy Award committee selects the 10 semifinalists, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote on finalists and the eventual winner.