AUGUSTA, Ga. (December 3, 2025) – The 10 semifinalists for the 2025 FCS Punter of the Year award were announced by the Augusta Sports Council on Wednesday, as University of North Alabama junior
Adam Watford was listed among the group.
This comes one day after Watford was named the United Athletic Conference Co-Specialist of the Year and was voted first team all-conference by the league's head coaches.
Watford and the other nine candidates were evaluated by the FCS Punter of the Year Award committee on their overall statistics and contribution to the team. Emphasis is placed on net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact of the team's success.
A national voting body of FBS sports information directors, conference representatives, and sports writers will determine the winner from the 10 semifinalists. Voting for the winner will open on December 4 and close on December 14 at 11 a.m. CT. The winner of the 2025 FCS Punter of the Year Award will be revealed on Monday, December 15.
Watford has one of the strongest resumes among the group, ranking fifth in the country with 46.6 yards per punt. He was the only punter in both FBS and FCS to have three punts go for over 70 yards. He had a 74 yarder against Central Arkansas and a pair of 72 yarders against Utah Tech and Tarleton State — the latter of which landed on the one-yard line.
The Dothan, Ala. native punted 66 times for 3,073 yards and finished with 12 fair catches, 18 punts inside the 20 yard line and 21 punts over 50 yards. Watford broke the FCS single-season record at UNA for most 50-yard punts while also setting the all-time career record for most 50-yard punts with 36. The previous record was set by former national champion punter Tony Faggioni in 1996.
Watford led the UAC in punting and led Division I with the longest punt two times this season. He shares the UAC Specialist of the Year award with Austin Peay kicker Carson Smith. Watford was an FCS Football Central and Phil Steele Freshman All-American in 2023.
2025 FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalists
Adam Watford, North Alabama
Ben Shrewsbury, Virginia Military Institute
Brady Clark, Princeton
Elliot Huether, St. Thomas
Gabriel Russo, Idaho State
James Platte, The Citadel
John McConnell, Mercer
Max Pelham, South Dakota State
Ryan Marks, Utah Tech
Thomas O'Hara, Murray State
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