USC punter Eddie Czaplicki named to 2023 Ray Guy Award watch list

USC doesn’t want its punter to take the field frequently, but the Trojan defense will need field position at times in 2023.

USC punter Eddie Czaplicki was named to the 2023 Ray Guy Award watch list this past week. The Ray Guy Award honors the nation’s top collegiate punter in the FBS.

Czaplicki, who transferred to USC from Arizona State in the spring of 2023, was one of the best punters in the conference and all of America last season.

In his two-year career at Arizona State (2021-22), he handled punting and kickoffs duties. He has recorded 95 punts for 4,253 yards (44.8 avg.) with a long of 75 yards and 29 going 50 yards or more. He has touchbacks on 29 of his 56 kickoffs (51.8%).

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Czaplicki was rated a five-star kicker and punter prospect via Prokicker.com; Kohl’s Football ranked him as the No. 3 kicker and No. 9 punter prospect nationally.

The winner of the Ray Guy Award will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN in December. Czaplicki will hopefully not have to take the field very often this year, but USC’s defense will need favorable field position in important situations.

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