Ray Guy was a four-sport star at Thomson High School and excelled in a variety of roles on the gridiron before becoming the first punter to ever be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2014). At Thomson, Guy played quarterback, safety, linebacker and tailback in addition to his kicking and punting duties. He led the Bulldogs to state titles in 1967 and 1968. In ‘68, he averaged an outstanding 49.7 yards per punt. In 2007, the AJC ranked Guy as the No. 17 Georgia high school football player of all time. He went on to punt, kick and play safety at Southern Mississippi and drew fame with plays like his 61-yard field goal in a Utah snowstorm and a 93-yard punt against Ole Miss. Guy intercepted eight passes as a senior, tying the single-season school record and was named MVP of the 1973 Chicago College All-Star Game. Guy’s booming leg led him to becoming the first punter in NFL history to be drafted in the first round (23rd overall by the Oakland Raiders). While playing for the Raiders, Guy became a three-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro. In 2000, the Greater Augusta Sports Council instituted the Ray Guy Award to be given to the nation’s best collegiate punter.
