8/14/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
TALLAHASSEE – Florida State senior punter Daniel Hughes earned a spot on the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list Friday. The Melbourne, Australia, native was a semifinalist for the award last season at New Mexico before transferring to Florida State in January.
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The Ray Guy Award, presented by the Augusta Sports Council, is given to the top FBS punter. Hughes is one of six semifinalists from 2025 on the preseason watch list.
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Hughes punted 41 times for 1,863 yards and an average of 45.4 yards for the Lobos in 2025, with 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and 13 punts traveling at least 50 yards. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection after New Mexico ranked 10th nationally with 43.02 net yards per punt. Hughes' career-long punt of 64 yards came at San Jose State last year.
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Before New Mexico, Hughes played 10 games at City College of San Francisco in 2024, with 49 punts and a 37.3-yard average. He was an Australian Rules Football player for the Northern Bullants in 2021 and 2022.
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The Ray Guy Award will be announced on December 10 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
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Hughes and the Seminoles will open the 2026 season August 29 at 7:00 p.m. against New Mexico State inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
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Preseason Honors
7/20 – Duce Robinson – Good Works Team Nominee
7/29 – Duce Robinson – Preseason All-ACC
8/3 – Duce Robinson – Maxwell Award Watch List
8/6 – Duce Robinson – Sporting News Preseason All-American Second Team
8/7 – Gabe Panikowski – Groza Award Watch List
8/11 – Duce Robinson – Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
8/14 – Daniel Hughes – Ray Guy Award Watch List
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The Ray Guy Award, presented by the Augusta Sports Council, is given to the top FBS punter. Hughes is one of six semifinalists from 2025 on the preseason watch list.
Â
Hughes punted 41 times for 1,863 yards and an average of 45.4 yards for the Lobos in 2025, with 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and 13 punts traveling at least 50 yards. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West selection after New Mexico ranked 10th nationally with 43.02 net yards per punt. Hughes' career-long punt of 64 yards came at San Jose State last year.
Â
Before New Mexico, Hughes played 10 games at City College of San Francisco in 2024, with 49 punts and a 37.3-yard average. He was an Australian Rules Football player for the Northern Bullants in 2021 and 2022.
Â
The Ray Guy Award will be announced on December 10 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
Â
Hughes and the Seminoles will open the 2026 season August 29 at 7:00 p.m. against New Mexico State inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Â
Preseason Honors
7/20 – Duce Robinson – Good Works Team Nominee
7/29 – Duce Robinson – Preseason All-ACC
8/3 – Duce Robinson – Maxwell Award Watch List
8/6 – Duce Robinson – Sporting News Preseason All-American Second Team
8/7 – Gabe Panikowski – Groza Award Watch List
8/11 – Duce Robinson – Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
8/14 – Daniel Hughes – Ray Guy Award Watch List
Players Mentioned
Saturday, November 14
Saturday, November 14
Saturday, November 14
Thursday, November 12
