Maryland football punter Bryce McFerson named to 2026 Ray Guy Watch List

Ahmed Ghafir
1 day ago
2 min read

Another deserving preseason honor has materialized for Maryland football.

Punter Bryce McFerson has been named to the 2026 Ray Guy Award Watch List, awarded to the best punter in college football.

McFerson is set to return for a third season as new coordinator Matt Barnes inherits arguably one of the best specialist tandems in the country with Sean O'Haire back for a second season.

After transferring from Notre Dame to Maryland ahead of the 2024 season, McFerson finished the regular season second in the Big Ten with a 44.2-yard punting average, the sixth-best single-season mark in program history. He averaged at least 45 yards per punt in half of his appearances in 2025, including 14 punts of 50-plus yards (second-most in the Big Ten). His 19 punts inside the 20-yard line ranked fourth-most in the Big Ten as McFerson earned 2025 Second Team All-Big Ten honors and was a three-time Ray Guy Award Ray's 8 List selection. He was also named Academic All-Big Ten and CSC Academic All-District in 2025.

McFerson finished the regular season second in the Big Ten with a 44.2-yard punting average. The Indian Trail, NC native averaged at least 45.0 yards per punt in six of 12 games. He recorded 14 punts of 50-plus yards, the second-most in the Big Ten, and placed 19 punts inside the 20-yard line, the fourth-most in the conference. His average yards per punt also ranks as the sixth-best single-season in program history.

As McFerson looks to build on his profile as an NFL-caliber punter after being tabbed as the 12th-best draft-eligible punter this season, according to Phil Steele, a final watch list will be announced in early November, and the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select 10 semifinalists in mid-November.

2026 Awards

Ray Guy Award: punter Bryce McFerson

Butkus Award Watch List: LB Daniel Wingate

Wuerffel Trophy Award Watch List: QB Malik Washington

Lou Groza Award: K Sean O’Haire

Rimington Trophy Award: IOL Michael Hershey

John Mackey Award: TE Dorian Fleming

Bronko Nagurski Trophy: LB Daniel Wingate

Shrine Bowl 1000: DB Amari Jackson, DB Jamare Glasker, LB Daniel Wingate, OL Tellek Lockette, OL Isaiah Wright, OL Rahtrel Perry, P Bryce McFerson, DB Lavain Scruggs, TE Dorian Fleming

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