AUGUSTA, Ga. (Dec. 6, 2024) – Northern Arizona punter
Ben D'Aquila has been named a semifinalist for the Augusta Sports Council's FCS Punter of the Year award.
The award honors the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS and is selected by a national voting body of FCS sports information directors, conference representatives, and sports writers. The FCS Punter of the Year will be chosen from 10 semifinalists and announced on Monday, Dec. 16.
The full list of semifinalists can be found below, but D'Aquila was nominated with two others in the Big Sky Conference in Brenden Hall from Montana State and Oscar Doyle from Weber State.
D'Aquila is earned an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention nod at punter following his first season with the Lumberjacks. He handled all the punting duties for the 'Jacks while also serving as a holder, punting 40 times for 1,866 yards to average 46.65 yards per punt. Additionally, he placed 17 inside the 20-yard line and 15 went for over 50 yards with 13 fair catches and one touchback.
His career long of 61 yards came in a victory over Idaho State. Against Abilene Christian in the FCS Playoffs, D'Aquila punted eight times for 379 yards, placing four punts inside the 20. His best average of the year came against Sacramento State where he punted twice for 101 yards, averaging 51 yards per kick.
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award:
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the
FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. 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 opponent's 20-yard line, 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.
2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalists
Aaron Trusler, Richmond
Albert Jang, Penn
Ben D'Aquila, Northern Arizona
Brendan Hall, Montana State
Brendon Kilpatrick, Youngstown State
John McConnell, Mercer
Nick Bigelow, Gardner-Webb
Oscar Doyle, Weber State
Sam Johnson, Valpo
Thomas O'Hara, Murray State
