Western Kentucky punter Cole Maynard has been added to the 2024 Ray Guy Award Watchlist, the Augusta Sports Council announced Tuesday.

The Ray Guy Award honors the nation’s top collegiate punter in the FBS.

Maynard made his first appearance as a Hilltopper on Saturday in the season-opener against No. 5 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He averaged 44.8 yards on nine punts, with a long of 54 yards and two others traveling 50-plus yards.

The redshirt junior from Mooresville, North Carolina, spent three seasons at North Carolina before transferring to WKU during the offseason. There, he appeared in 11 games in 2023 during his final year with the Tar Heels, primarily as the holder on field goals and PATs. He helped UNC kickers go 22-of-24 on field goals and 51-of-51 on PATs. He punted once for 39 yards against Virginia. In 2022, Maynard appeared in all 14 games as the team’s primary holder. He punted once that season against Virginia Tech. He punted once as a true freshman in 2021 – a 46-yarder against Georgia State.

Maynard spent two seasons as the punter at Hough High. He is the son of Brad Maynard, who punted in the NFL for 15 years with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns, and Karen Maynard, who was an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. His brother, Conner Maynard, is a punter at Appalachian State.

The initial Ray Guy Award Preseason Watchlist was released Aug. 2 and featured 33 candidates. Including Maynard, three candidates were added Tuesday. The complete list of candidates will be released Nov. 6. In mid-November, the Ray Guy Award committee will meet to select the 10 semifinalists, who will be announced Nov. 15. A national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists to be announced on Nov. 26. After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation’s top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN in December 2024.

WKU will be back in action against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday for the home opener at Houchens-Smith Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.