BROOKVILLE, N.Y. — First-team All-NEC punter Will Lynch has been named to the preseason watchlist for the 2024 FCS Punter of the Year Award.

Entering his third season at LIU, Lynch is recognized as one of the top punters in the FCS. He has amassed over 4,400 yards on 111 punts in 22 games as a Shark.

The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, native has placed 38 punts inside the 20-yard line. Notably, he recorded three punts of over 50 yards against Merrimack on Oct. 21, a 63-yard punt against Central Connecticut State on Oct. 26, and a 62-yard punt against Wagner on Nov. 11.

In the 2023 season, Lynch was named First-team All-NEC and received numerous accolades, including FCS Football Central First-team All-NEC, two-time NEC Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 9 and Oct. 30), NEC Prime Performer on Oct. 30, and recognition on the Phil Steele and Bluebloods Preseason All-NEC second team. He was also honored as the team's Special Teams MVP by his LIU teammates and coaches.

The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be chosen by a national voting body consisting of FCS sports information directors and national sports writers.

LIU opens its season Aug. 31 at UAlbany. 

About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. Among the statistics used to identify the winner are net punting average, the number of times punts are downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponent's 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and the percentage of punts not returned, with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must also demonstrate team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team's success.