Football
Baker named to watch list for nation’s top punter
Toby Baker was among 27 players to earn a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2016 Ray Guy Award.
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.
| Fri, Dec 27 |  | Liberty Bowl vs Texas Tech (Memphis) | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Thu, Aug 29 |  | vs UAPB (Little Rock) | W, 70-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Oklahoma State | L, 31-39 2OT |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | vs UAB | W, 37-27 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Auburn | W, 24-14 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Texas A&M (Arl) | L, 21-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | vs Tennessee | W, 19-14 |
| Sat, Oct 19 |  | vs LSU | L, 34-10 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | @ Mississippi State | W, 58-25 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | vs Ole Miss | L, 63-31 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Texas | L, 20-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | vs Louisiana Tech | W, 35-14 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @ Missouri | L, 28-21 |
| OVERALL | Record | Pts | ||
| 1. | Bryant (21) | 13-0 | 246 | 1 |
| 2. | Greenwood (4) | 13-0 | 224 | 2 |
| 3. | Bentonville | 9-4 | 185 | 5 |
| 4. | Little Rock Parkview | 13-1 | 173 | 4 |
| 5. | Conway | 10-2 | 156 | 3 |
| 6. | Pulaski Academy | 10-3 | 112 | 8 |
| 7. | Shiloh Christian | 9-4 | 77 | — |
| 6. | Benton | 10-2 | 67 | 6 |
| 7. | Fayetteville | 9-3 | 52 | 7 |
| 9. | Rogers | 8-4 | 35 | 9 |
| Others receiving votes: Arkadelphia 20, Farmington 15, Valley View 5, Hot Springs Lakeside, Mountain Home 2, Salem 2, Conway Christian 1, Little Rock Christian 1. | ||||
| CLASS 7A | ||||
| 1. | Bryant (25) | 13-0 | 125 | 1 |
| 2. | Bentonville | 9-4 | 98 | 3 |
| 3. | Conway | 10-2 | 77 | 2 |
| 4. | Pulaski Academy | 10-3 | 48 | 5 |
| 5. | Fayetteville | 9-3 | 17 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Rogers 10. | ||||
| CLASS 6A | ||||
| 1. | Greenwood (25) | 13-0 | 125 | 1 |
| 2. | Shiloh Christian | 9-4 | 96 | 4 |
| 3. | Benton | 10-2 | 77 | 2 |
| 4. | Mountain Home | 10-3 | 51 | 3 |
| 5. | Lake Hamilton | 8-4 | 20 | — |
| Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 6. | ||||
| CLASS 5A | ||||
| 1. | Little Rock Parkview (25) | 13-1 | 125 | 1 |
| 4. | Farmington | 12-2 | 90 | 4 |
| 3. | Valley View | 12-1 | 68 | 3 |
| 5. | Hot Springs Lakeside | 10-3 | 60 | 5 |
| 2. | Joe T. Robinson | 10-2 | 25 | 2 |
| Others receiving votes: Morrilton 3. | ||||
| CLASS 4A | ||||
| 1. | Arkadelphia (25) | 13-2 | 125 | 2 |
| 2. | Elkins | 14-1 | 99 | 1 |
| 3. | Little Rock Mills | 12-1 | 52 | 3 |
| 4. | Southside Batesville | 13-1 | 46 | 5t |
| 5. | Warren | 10-3 | 28 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Malvern 3. | ||||
| CLASS 3A | ||||
| 1. | Salem (25) | 11-4 | 125 | — |
| 2. | Bismarck | 14-1 | 100 | 1 |
| 3. | Mansfield | 11-3 | 65 | — |
| 4. | Fordyce | 11-1 | 42 | 2 |
| 5. | Osceola | 10-2 | 21 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Booneville 17, Prescott 3, Rivercrest 2. | ||||
| CLASS 2A | ||||
| 1. | Conway Christian (25) | 14-0 | 125 | 2 |
| 2. | East Poinsett Co. | 10-4 | 98 | 4 |
| 3. | Junction City | 9-4 | 68 | — |
| 5. | Mount Ida | 9-3 | 41 | — |
| 4. | Carlisle | 11-1 | 25 | 1 |
| Others receiving votes: Des Arc 8, Bigelow 6, Murfreesboro 3, Cross County 1. | ||||
| 8-MAN SANCTIONED | ||||
| 1. | Strong-Huttig (25) | 8-0 | 75 | 1 |
| 2. | Midland | 11-1 | 50 | 2 |
| 3. | Cedar Ridge | 9-2 | 22 | 3 |
| Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3. | ||||