Progrums

Seminole Punter Joins Ray Guy Watch Party

Florida State University has added senior punter Daniel Hughes to the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list, following his standout 2025 campaign at New Mexico. Hughes averaged 45.4 yards over 41 punts, pinned 13 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and kicked 13 punts of at least 50 yards, helping the Lobos rank 10th nationally in net punting. After transferring to FSU in January, Hughes joins kicker Gabe Panikowski—named to the Lou Groza Award watch list—in giving the Seminoles recognition at both specialist positions. Wide receiver Duce Robinson has also garnered preseason honors on the Maxwell and Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch lists, and may moonlight as a punt returner. Florida State opens its season against New Mexico State on August 29, with the Ray Guy Award to be handed out on December 10 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.

Brace yourselves, Tallahassee: the university has officially recognized that football is a game of inches—even when it comes to specialists who rarely see the spotlight unless someone botches a snap. Daniel Hughes, the Aussie who punted his way to median-yardage superstardom at New Mexico, has been rewarded for kicking a ball so far that opposing returners need a GPS. Meanwhile, FSU’s other rubber-foot brigade member, kicker Gabe Panikowski, earned a Lou Groza nod for reminding us that extra points still matter—just ask every coach who’s clutched his clipboard in panic since kickoff became an eight-yard chore. And let’s not forget Duce Robinson’s bid to become the world’s most accomplished part-time punt returner—because nothing says “multi-talented athlete” like catching a deep ball one second and leaping between leg shields the next. If fans are looking for a middle seat on this hype train, they’ll find it somewhere between “I love this War Chant” and “Why aren’t we talking about the punter more?” Buckle up, Seminole Nation: specialist mania is here, and it’s slightly edgy.