MIAMI (Oct. 17, 2019) - After leading the Conference USA for punt average, junior Tommy Heatherly has been announced as a nominee for the Ray Guy Award Watch List. 

Heatherly has had a great start to his career at FIU, with the Oklahoma native dominating the punting game. The junior has earned a 45.6 average for punts this season, with 11 over 50 so far for the year and a long of 60 against New Hampshire. Heatherly has also hit seven punts inside the 20. Heatherly ranks first in the league for his 45.6 average and 16th in the nation. 

Last season, FIU's all-time punt leader Stone Wilson was named a nominee for the Ray Guy Award Watch List.

The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.

The Ray Guy Award committee will announce 10 semifinalists on Nov. 19, and then three finalists will be released Nov. 25. Following another round of voting, the 2019 Ray Guy Award winner will be announced Dec. 12 live on the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.  

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FIU hosts UTEP on Saturday, Oct. 19, as the Panthers cap their three-game homestand at 7:00 p.m. ET. For more information, or to order your tickets by phone, please call (305) FIU-GAME or click here. 

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