Aug. 3, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest's Sam Swank is one of five players included on the preseason watch list for the 2007 Ray Guy Award, the Greater Augusta Sports Council announced on Thursday. The Ray Guy Award is given to the nation's top Division I collegiate punter.

The preseason watch list is comprised of the top non-graduating finalists from the previous year. Swank, a fourth-year junior, is joined on the list by Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks, Eastern Michigan's Zach Johnson, Notre Dame's Geoff Price and Utah's Louis Sakoda.

Swank was a semifinalist for the 2006 Ray Guy Award after taking over the punting duties following the graduation of All-American and 2005 Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Plackemeier. Swank was the only player in the country to be included on the semifinal lists for both the Ray Guy Award and the Lou Groza Award last season.

As a punter, Swank ranked seventh in the ACC and 43rd nationally in punting (41.2 yard average). Swank nailed 19 punts inside the 20 and did not have a single punt blocked.

Named a first team All-American placekicker by Sports Illustrated, Swank tied the NCAA record for most 50-yard field goals in a game and set 11 new school records last season. He was voted as the ACC Championship Game's Most Valuable Player.

Swank was named a 2007 Preseason All-ACC pick as both a punter and as a kicker.