Ball State University Athletics
Football's Miller Named to Ray Guy Award Watch List
September 20, 2007 | Football
Chris Miller (Libertyville, Ill./Carmel H.S.)
, who is a junior punter on the Ball State football team, has been named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
The Ray Guy Award identifies the nation's top collegiate punter and is determined by a national selection committee made up of sportswriters, college football coaches, sports information directors, past Ray Guy Award winners and members designated by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
The Watch List will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November. The national voting body will then vote for the top three finalists who will be announced at the end of November. The award will be presented live on ESPN December 6, during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.
Miller has punted 13 times this season for 609 yards and a 46.8 average. He has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line five times this year. Miller, who was named to the Playboy All-America Preseason Football Team this past summer, punted 57 times for 2,637 yards with a long punt of 78 yards last season. Of his 57 punts, 20 were placed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, 10 were touchbacks and six were fair catches. Opponents returned 26 punts against the Cardinals in 2006 and averaged only 7.2 yards per punt with 15 yards being the longest return. Ball State's net punting in 2006 was 38.28, which ranked seventh in the country.
Miller's 2,637 punt yards ranked as the 10th highest single-season total in Ball State history, while his 46.3 average was the second best in Ball State annals, behind only Brad Maynard's 46.5 average in 1995.
Miller, who was named to The Sporting News All-America Second Team in 2006, led the Mid-American Conference and ranked second in the nation with a 46.26 punting average last season.
Ball State, 2-1 on the season, will play at Nebraska Saturday and then return to Scheumann Stadium for three straight home games -- vs. Buffalo (9/29), vs. Central Michigan (10/6) and vs. Western Kentucky (10/13).
