Roy named one of three finalists for Ray Guy award
University of Houston senior punter Dane Roy was named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced Monday.
Roy is having one of the best seasons by a punter in school history with a 46.9-yard average that leads the American Athletic Conference and is seventh nationally. He has 21 punts inside the 20-yard line and leads the AAC with 19 punts of 50 yards or more.
“Of all the seasons of work we’ve put in on the punt team, it’s pretty cool to finish off the career this way,” said Roy, the first UH punter named a finalist for the award. “I’ve got to pinch myself. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”
The other finalists include Kentucky’s Max Duffy and Syracuse’s Sterling Hofrichter. Duffy and Roy are products of the Prokick Australia pipeline that has produced Ray Guy winners five of the last six years.
Entering Saturday’s season finale against Navy, Roy is on pace to break the school singleseason record 45.5 yards set by Richie Leone in 2012.
Earlier Monday, Roy was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Six of his eight punts against Tulsa were downed inside the 20-yard line.
The winner of the Ray Guy Award will be announced on Dec. 12 at The Home Depot College Football Award Show in Atlanta.
Fort Bend Foster’s Nwankwo commits
The Cougars picked up a commitment Monday from Chidozie Nwankwo, a defensive tackle from Fort Bend Foster.
Nwankwo, who announced his decision during a 45-second video posted to Twitter just after midnight, had offers from every Power Five conference.
He picked UH over LSU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Boise State and Arkansas.
“I’m 110 percent committed to the University of Houston,” Nwankwo wrote. “Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career.”
A three-star prospect regarded as one of the top defensive players in the area, Nwankwo originally committed to the Cougars and former coach
Major Applewhite. After Applewhite was fired last December, Nwankwo announced he would reopen his recruitment.
Nwankwo represents a big pickup for coach Dana Holgorsen
with about three weeks until the December early signing period. The 6-1, 275-pound Nwankwo is the Cougars’ second-highest rated prospect for the class of 2020, according to recruiting website 247Sports. UH has nine commitments.
TE Muhammad transfers to UH
Mustapha Muhammad ,a former four-star tight end from Ridge Point, announced Monday he plans to transfer to UH from Michigan.
Muhammad was injured during his freshman year and redshirted. He played in only two games this season before announcing in October he would enter the transfer portal.
The No. 168 overall national prospect in 2018, Muhammad caught 68 passes for 1,040 yards and 12 touchdowns during his varsity career at Ridge Point.
He will have at least three years eligibility remaining.
Two players out of concussion protocol
Center Jack Freeman is out of concussion protocol and “progressing,” coach Dana Holgorsen said.
Freeman will be evaluated throughout the week before a determination is made whether is will be available for Saturday’s game against Navy. Keenan Murphy played center for the first time in his career in Saturday’s win at Tulsa.
Defensive tackle Willie Smith did not make the trip to Tulsa because of undisclosed health issues. Smith can play in one more game and still preserve his redshirt.
Freshman safety Ronald Nunnery has been cleared to return to practice after spending time in concussion protocol.