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It's not a glamorous job, but punting can win games. Few fans get excited to see the punter take the field, but for some punters, they're good enough to question that premise. Here are 10 punters who are among the best in college football.
Top 10 punters entering Week 2 of college football
10. Avery Book, Akron
Book is a senior whose 48.2 yards per punt is currently ranked sixth in the nation. A transfer from Division II, he's an upgrade over last year, when Akron's punter averaged 37.5 yards per kick.
9. Ryan Eckley, Michigan State
Just a sophomore, Eckley was second-team All-Big Ten as a freshman last year with a 46.7 yards per kick total. That included 24 of his 56 punts landing inside the 20-yard line. So far this year, his 49.5 yards per punt is one of the best marks in the nation.
8. George Eberle, New Mexico State
Eberle is a senior who has played little for NMSU. But he's on the radar after a superb Week 1 performance in which he averaged 49.8 yards per kick on six punts.
7. Brett Thorson, Georgia
Thorson isn't the flashiest punter, but last season, he averaged 43.8 yards per kick and an astonishing 42.6 net yards per punt. In other words, some kick it longer, but few are as solid all-around as Thorson. He averaged 48 yards per punt in Week 1 this year.
6. Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
Jokes may abound at Florida's need to use the punter, but Crawshaw is a good one. Last season, he averaged 48.9 yards per punt, with 15 of his 42 kicks being downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He averaged 47.6 yards per kick in Week 1 action this year.
5. James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
A rising star, Ferguson-Reynolds managed 49.7 yards per kick in 2023, including 23 of his 55 boots landing inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He only punted once in Week 1 of 2024, but it was a 48-yard boot.
4. Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
A solid senior, Mastromanno's 45.5 yards per kick (last season) goes well with his 43.3-yard net. In total, 26 of his 66 punts landed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. 2024 has given him plenty of chances so far, as he's averaged 49.9 yards per kick on eight punts already.
3. Tyler White, Texas A&M
A redshirt freshman, White is kind of a new guy here but was a highly-regarded recruit. One week into 2024, he has a 54.0 yards per kick average, which shows that he'll live up to the hype.
2. Alec Bevelhimer, Miami (Ohio)
This punter is highly skilled at flipping the field, as he averaged 45.0 yards per kick with a net of 43.2. He managed to place 28 out of 58 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. However, he has had a slow start in 2024, with an average of just 39.0 yards per punt, but it's only been one week.
1. Jacob Ulrich, Kennesaw State
It may not last, but Ulrich, a redshirt freshman, drew attention with a big Week 1. His 54.6 yards per punt average will certainly get him noticed.
