The 6-1, 225-pound Koch has been a major factor inNebraska boasting one of the nation’s top
special teams units. Koch is averaging 45.0 yards per punt this season to rank
ninth nationally in punting average. Koch’s strong leg and punting accuracy has
helped Nebraska rank second
nationally in net punting at 39.9 yards per attempt.
The Seward, Neb., native has placed
nearly half of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, as 21 of his 43
punts have been downed inside the 20. Koch has also shown his power, connecting
on three punts of 70 yards or more, including an 84-yard punt against Pitt. The
84-yarder was the second-longest punt in school history and the longest in Big
12 Conference history.
Koch is one of three Big 12
Conference punters on the semifinal list, joining Colorado’s John Torp and Kyle Tucker of Kansas. Koch is the
second straight Nebraska punter to be named a semifinalist for
the Ray Guy Award. Former Husker All-American Kyle Larson was one of three
finalists for the award during his senior season in
2003.
A national voting body of Division
I-A coaches and sports information directors, national media and former punters
will determine the three award finalists, and ultimately the winner of the
award. The winner will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College
Football Awards show on Thursday, Dec. 8.
2005 Ray Guy
Award Semifinalists
Name
School
Year
Danny Baugher
Arizona
Senior
Dave Brytus
Purdue
Sophomore
Gordon Ely-Kelso
Georgia
Junior
Chris Hall
Florida
State
Senior
Sam Koch
Nebraska
Senior
Ryan Plackemeier Wake Forest
Senior
Nic Schmitt
Virginia Tech
Junior
John
Torp
Colorado
Senior
Kyle
Tucker
Kansas
Sophomore
Eric Wilbur
Florida
Junior