Buckeye Reporter

Bowling Green State University punter John Henderson has been named to the 2025 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List, according to an announcement from the Augusta Sports Council. The Ray Guy Award is given each year to the top collegiate Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punter in the nation. Henderson is the only player from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) included on this year's list.

Henderson, a senior from Acton, California, was recognized as the MAC's only semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2024 and earned second-team All-MAC honors that season. He recorded 50 punts with an average of 40.8 yards per punt and had a long punt of 66 yards. During the season, he placed 21 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and eight inside the 10-yard line. Only nine of his punts were returned, with Bowling Green's punt defense allowing just 34 return yards during regular season play. Additionally, 21 of his punts resulted in fair catches.

The preseason watch list features a wide range of FBS punters selected based on last year's Ray Guy Award semifinalists, All-American and All-Conference honorees, top performers from last season, and those chosen for preseason accolades in 2025.

According to organizers, "This is not a final list as the winner of the Ray Guy Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list." They added that additional candidates will be considered as nominations open and throughout the football season.

The full candidate list will be released on November 5. In mid-November, ten semifinalists will be selected by the award committee. A national panel made up of sports information directors from FBS schools, media members, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for three finalists who will be announced later that month. After finalists are named, voters will select one winner who will be announced live during TheHome Depot College Football Awards broadcast on ESPN in December 2025.