August 27, 2002
Texas A&M punter Cody Scates is one of four Big 12 Conference players named to the Ray Guy Award watch list on Tuesday by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.
Scates, who is from Tyler Lee High School, is beginning his third season as the Aggies' punter. He is only second punter in A&M history to average over 40 yards punting as a freshman and sophomore. Scates was selected as the No. 22 punter in nation by The Sporting News.
"Cody Scates has done a good job for us the last two seasons," Slocum said. "He has the ability to win the field position battle for us and pin the opponents deep in their own territory."
The Ray Guy Award is presented each season to the top collegiate punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The watch list names 34 punters and will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists in late October. Then, three finalists will be announced in November. The award is named for Pro Bowl punter Ray Guy who recorded a legendary career for the Oakland Raiders.
Scates is the latest in a group of A&M football players being included on national watch lists for this season. Brian Gamble and Jarrod Penright have been named to the Butkus Award lists, while Penright and Sammy Davis are candidates for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. Quarterback Mark Farris is on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award and the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy voters are keeping an eye on Ty Warren.
The No. 23-ranked Aggies kickoff the 2002 season by hosting Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, August 31 at 6 p.m. at Kyle Field.