Baylor punter Palmer Williams has added another national nod to his growing resume, landing on the Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List, the Augusta Sports Council announced Wednesday.
Williams is one of 63 punters across the country to make the cut. He was a finalist for the award last season, and this year he’s backing that reputation up with production that has him leading the Big 12 and sitting third nationally with a 49.0-yard average.
The honors keep stacking up for Williams, who was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year after last season’s breakout run. He’s also on track to finish his Baylor career as the program’s all-time leader in punting average, and he already owns two of the top single-season marks in school history.
The next step in the Ray Guy Award process comes Nov. 13, when the committee will announce 10 semifinalists. From there, three finalists will be selected by a national voting body made up of Football Bowl Subdivision sports information directors, media representatives and former Ray Guy Award winners.
Once the finalists are set, that same voting body will cast a second round of ballots to decide the nation’s top punter. The winner will be revealed live during The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 11.
Williams is also one of several Baylor players showing up on national and conference honor lists this season. Among the Bears’ other 2026 honors are Michael Allen, Rhett Armstrong, Travion Barnes, Daniel Cobbs, Ryan Davis, Gavin Freeman, Micah Gifford, DJ Lagway, Tony Livingston, Ryelan Morris, Dawson Pendergrass, Jacob Redding, Dylan Schaub, Kaden Sieracki, Devonte Tezino, LeVar Thornton Jr., Devin Turner, Hosea Wheeler and Williams himself, with multiple players earning watch list recognition, weekly awards and all-conference mentions.
Baylor also listed Williams among its preseason and midseason accolades, including Midseason All-America Second Team honors from Sporting News, Midseason All-Texas Second Team recognition from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Week 4 Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8, Week 4 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 1 Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week, Preseason All-America honors from Walter Camp Foundation, CBS Sports and Phil Steele, and preseason All-Big 12 and All-Texas recognition.
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