The main reason I’m playing this sport right now is 'cause deep down I’m fat and I don’t like running very far. – Utah punter Tom Hackett
Utah’s Tom Hackett has repeated as winner of the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter. The senior, who also became the first Ute to be named a Walter Camp All-American in consecutive years, was honored Thursday night at The Home Depot College Football Awards show in Atlanta. He was accompanied to the event at the College Football Hall of Fame by members of his family from Australia and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.
“It feels just as good as it did last year,” said Hackett, who was joined by Michael Carrizosa of San Jose State and Hayden Hunt of Colorado State as finalists for the award.
Hackett is just the second back-to-back winner and third two-time honoree in the history of the award, which was established in 2000. Louisiana Tech’s Ryan Allen (2011, 2012) and Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda (20024, 2006) are the others.
“I had a good feeling about this year. I thought I definitely had a shot,” Hackett said. “I thought that more this year than I did last year.”
Even so, Hackett didn’t make the trip to Georgia expecting to win it. That way, he explained, it would be easier for him to get on the plane home if he were to win it.
As for being part of history — as a two-time honoree and the first Ray Guy Award winner from Utah and the Pac-12 — Hackett considers it a privilege.
“But to be honest with you, it’s a privilege just to be out here in Atlanta with the two other blokes that were on the finalist panel with me,” Hackett said. “All I can really ask for now is enjoy this with my family and get back to business, get ready for BYU.”
Hackett enters the Dec. 19 Las Vegas Bowl against the Cougars as the Pac-12 leader with 47.8 yards per punt and 20 kicks of 50 yards or greater. His efforts have Utah leading the nation in net punting (43.67 yards).
“The main reason I’m playing this sport right now is 'cause deep down I’m fat and I don’t like running very far,” Hackett joked when receiving the award on the live ESPN broadcast.
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