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USC punter Eddie Czaplicki wins Ray Guy Award

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinneyβ€’12/12/24β€’

ErikTMcKinney

USC punter Eddie Czaplicki walks out to a practice with the Trojans
USC punter Eddie Czaplicki walks out to a practice with the Trojans (Erik McKinney/WeAreSC)

USC senior punter Eddie Czaplicki has been named the Ray Guy Award winner by the Augusta Sports Council Board of Directors. The honor was announced during the Home Depot College Football Award on Thursday evening.

Czaplicki was outstanding for the Trojans this season as USC led the nation in net punting. Czaplicki also led the nation in percentage of punts inside the 20 as he put nine punts inside the 10-yard line and four punts inside the five-yard line.

He averaged 48.5 yards per punt this season and averaged better than 50-yard put punt in four games this year. More than half of his 40 punts traveled at least 50 yards, including a season-long 62-yard boot at Minnesota.

Czaplicki is USC’s first-ever Ray Guy Award winner and is USC’s most prolific postseason honoree following the 2024 season. He became USC’s second-ever punter named a First-Team All-American (joining Tom Malone). Czaplicki was also named a Second Team All-American by College Football Network and Action Network. He was named the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Yera and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and AP All-Big Ten First Team.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley spoke several times about the impact Czaplicki had on the field for the Trojans and proved prophetic in his final thought about his punter.

β€œThis dude has been a dawg for us all year and has continued to produce,” Riley said this season. β€œYou talk about a guy whose performance is consistent in and out. This dude is the best in the country at his position.”

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz