Baker named to watch list for nation’s top punter

By ESPN Arkansas News Services

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Arkansas senior punter Toby Baker was among 27 players to earn a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2016 Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced Thursday.

The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate punter. Baker is one of five players from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on the list and the fourth Razorback this week to garner a spot on a preseason award watch list.

Baker enters 2016 as Arkansas’ starting punter for the second-consecutive season. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt last season, punting 43 times for 1,772 yards.

Baker showed tremendous accuracy as he placed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line – including 13 of his last 22 – with only two touchbacks. In addition, he boomed six punts 50-plus yards, allowed only 125 yards on 18 returns, and did not have a punt blocked. He had previously been named a nominee for the Ray Guy Award on Oct. 30, 2015 for his efforts during the first seven games of the season.

The Memphis, Tennessee, native was one of three walk-ons awarded a scholarship after the 2015 regular season, prior to the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

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Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10Tennessee3:15 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Oct 17@ Vanderbilt6:00 PM
ESPN2
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (10)5-01613
2.Bentonville West (3)5-01394
3.Conway (4)4-11302
4.Bentonville4-11211
5.Joe T. Robinson5-01035
6.Searcy5-0776
7.North Little Rock4-1447
8.Springdale Har-Ber3-227—
9.Sheridan5-023—
10.Greenwood3-222—
Others receiving votes: Bryant 19, Benton 15, LR Christian 13, Fayetteville 7, Stuttgart 6, Mountain Home 5, Farmington 4, El Dorado 4, Sylvan Hills 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Van Buren 1, Jacksonville 1, Nashville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (10)5-0763
2.Bentonville West (3)5-0594
3.Conway (4)4-1552
4.Bentonville4-1451
5.North Little Rock4-195
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 5, Bryant 4, Fayetteville 2.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (16)5-0841
2.Benton (1)3-2453
3.Sheridan5-0434
4.El Dorado4-1315
5.Mountain Home4-121—
Others receiving votes: Sylvan Hills 19, Van Buren 12.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (16)5-0841
2.Greenwood (1)3-2552
3.Farmington5-0464
4.Jacksonville4-133—
5.Little Rock Parkview3-2163
Others receiving votes: Greenbrier 9, LR Mills 7, Camden Fairview 4, Morrilton 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (11)5-0761
2.Nashville (4)5-0692
3.Gosnell (2)5-0483
4.Ozark5-0254
5.Elkins4-1155
Others receiving votes: Gravette 8, Arkadelphia 4, Forrest City 2, Fountain Lake 2, Pottsville 2, Lonoke 2.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (4)4-1622
2.Fordyce (7)3-1601
3.Mansfield4-2284
4.Walnut Ridge (4)4-123—
Rison5-023—
Others receiving votes: Rivercrest 21, Smackover 16, Glen Rose 14, Newport 6, Atkins 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)6-0711
2.Baptist Prep (7)5-0692
3.Marked Tree4-1294
4.East Poinsett County4-119—
5.Gurdon3-2175
Others receiving votes: Earle 14, Hazen 9, Bearden 9, Bigelow 9, Dierks 6, Hector 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (7)5-0291
Cedar Ridge (5)5-0292
3.Magazine (1)4-0153
Others receiving votes: Izard County 4, Rose Bud 1.

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