Tory Taylor wins Ray Guy Award after phenomenal season at Iowa
Tory Taylor has won the nation’s top honor for punters after a phenomenal season at Iowa.
The punter won the Ray Guy Award, becoming the first Hawkeyes to ever win the award. Taylor punted 86 times, which is 11 more times than the next punter.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 🏆
Tory Taylor has won the @RayGuyAward!#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/uqFlKlpiN3
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 9, 2023
Taylor led the nation in punt yards with 4,119. Taylor’s 47.9-yard punt average was 3rd in the country behind only Boise State’s James Ferguson-Reynolds and BYU’s Ryan Rehkow.
Taylor broke Iowa’s single season punting yardage record for a 3rd consecutive season in 2023. Thirty six of his punts traveled 50+ yards (six punts of 60+), 27 were fair caught, 30 were downed inside the 20, 11 inside the 10 and 6 inside the 5. He only has six touchbacks and opponents average just 8.8 yards per return.
Due to Iowa’s anemic offense, Taylor punted at least 7 times in 7 games this season and 6 times in 11 of 13 contests. In addition to the Ray Guy Award, Taylor was also named the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media last month.
Taylor and the Hawkeyes will have 1 more game this season. The team will take on the Tennessee Volunteers in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1.