Syracuse football punter Sterling Hofrichter made program history on Monday afternoon. Here are all the details and what it all means.
Prior to the season starting a few analysts mentioned that Syracuse football may arguably have the best punter in the country and on Monday afternoon that conversation became a lot more realistic.
Through an official press release, it was announced that Orange punter Sterling Hofrichter has been named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award which is annually doled out to the nation’s best punter.
This is the first time in Syracuse football history that a member of the Orange has finished as a finalist. The award has been handed out every year since 2000.
Hofrichter will be joined by Kentucky’s Max Duffy and Houston’s Dane Roy in Atlanta, Georgia at the College Football Hall of Fame. On Thursday, December 12 they’ll officially announce the winner of the Ray Guy Award at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Syracuse football may be 4-7 this season, but don’t blame Sterling Hofrichter for the team’s struggles.
The three-year captain has been electric this season for the Orange in the battle for field position. He’s booted over 64 punts this season with a gross average of just under 43.7 yards per punt, which translates to a net average of 42.8 per kick.
This season he leads the conference with 27 punts that have been downed inside the 20-yard line with only two touchbacks. On top of accuracy and ball placement, he’s also displayed one of the most powerful legs in all of college football with 20 punts that have at least traveled 50 yards or more.
In terms of the national rankings, Syracuse ranks in the top-five in net punting. Opponents have 10 punt returns that have gone for a grand total of 17 yards this season which is a healthy average of 1.7 yards per return.
On top of his duties as the team’s punter, he’s also helped in other areas on the team. Sterling handles kickoffs and even strutted his versatility as a placekicker earlier this season when he drilled a 52-yarder vs Holy Cross back in the early portion of the season. In 2019 he hasn’t missed a field goal (100 percent accuracy, going 1-for-1 on the year).
"Per the official press release, “Hofrichter’s best punting performance of the season came against Clemson on September 14. He averaged 52.2 yards per kick on nine punts against the Tigers, the best one-game mark in team history for a player with more than five punts. Hofrichter hit a career-best six punts that traveled at least 50 yards, including matching his career-long with a 65-yard boot. He was rewarded with ACC Specialist of the Week honors and voted the Ray Guy Award National Punter of the Week for the effort.”"
Ultimately the winner of the Ray Guy Award will be decided by a national voting body of FBS coaches, sports information directors, national media, and former Ray Guy Award winners, per the press release.
Although Syracuse football fans can also make their voices heard by voting here. The winner of the fan vote will receive one vote that is equivalent to one national selection committee member’s vote, per the press release. So what are you waiting for? Help Sterling Hofrichter make history!