In the early stretch of a season without many bright spots for the Southern Miss football team, Bryce Lofton has led his special teams unit into being a silver lining. The graduate senior has now been named to the Ray Guy Award watchlist, given annually to the best punter in Division 1 FBS football.
The award is named after Lofton’s legendary punting predecessor, Southern Miss great Ray Guy, who is the only punter to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Additionally, Guy became the first punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 1973.
Congratulations to these punters who have been nominated to our 2024 Ray Guy Award watchlist!#RayGuyAward | #RGA pic.twitter.com/eOBMItxXN5
— Ray Guy Award (@RayGuyAward) September 22, 2024
Lofton has averaged 43.5 yards per punt through the first four games of the 2024 campaign – the 30th-best mark in America. The Pisgah product provides a veteran presence for the Golden Eagles after punting in all twelve games last season. Lofton also boasts a powerful boot – notching a season-high punt of 55 yards against Southeastern Louisiana and a career-long of 57 yards at Louisiana last year. Lofton landed in Hattiesburg by way of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where he punted for three seasons.
Lofton and the Golden Eagles (1-3) will begin their trek through the Sun Belt slate next Saturday against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.
