ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia senior punter Brett Thorson has been named the winner of the 2025 Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to college football’s top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

In addition, Thorson was named a Walter Camp First Team All-American and junior ILB CJ Allen was included as a Walter Camp Second Team All-American.

 

Thorson, a native of Melbourne, Australia, received the award during Friday’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.  Thorson won the honor over the other two finalists in Troy’s Evan Crenshaw and Baylor’s Palmer Williams.  Drew Butler was the first and only other Ray Guy Award winner Georgia has had after the All-American collected the 2009 accolade.

 

The winner was determined by a national voting body consisting of FBS sports information directors, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners.  Thorson will be honored in Augusta at the award’s banquet at a to be determined date in 2026.

 

During the Bulldogs’ 12-1 run this season, Thorson has 42 punts for an average of 45.2, including a long of 66 during the fifth straight win over Florida.  He has forced 22 fair catches and dropped 21 inside the 20-yard line thanks in part to 13 balls that have traveled at least 50 yards.  Thorson has only four touchbacks and allowed a total of four returns for 15 yards.  

 

Georgia ranks eighth in the country in Net Punting at 43.1 while the Bulldogs lead the SEC and rank ninth nationally in Punt Return Defense at 3.60 yards per return.  Thorson ranks third in school history for career punting average (45.5) and is on pace to take over UGA’s top spot in career net punting (42.8).

Most recently, Thorson put Alabama’s offense in a variety of precarious spots during the Bulldogs’ 28-7 rout of the Tide in the SEC Championship Game.  Thorson punted seven times for an average of 45.3 yards, including a long of 59, as he dropped five inside the 20, had only one touchback and allowed the Tide minus-4 yards on one return.  He helped start Alabama’s possessions at the 8-yard line and 9-yard line twice.

Third-seeded Georgia (12-1) will play in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1.  The Bulldogs will play the winner of Ole Miss-Tulane, who take on each other in the CFP first round on Dec. 20.