Published: 9/18/2008

UM punter Mesko named to watch list

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Michigan junior punter Zoltan Mesko was named to the 2008 Ray Guy Award watch list, a precursor for recognition as college football s top punter.

This is the second consecutive season in which Mesko has been nominated for the award. He is currently second in the Big Ten and 15th in the country with a 44.1-yard average per punt, with seven punts downed inside the 20 and seven punts covering 50 or more yards.

Mesko is succeeding while adapting to the special teams style of new UM coach Rich Rodriguez, who sometimes asks his punters to run left or right before punting a.k.a rugby style.

Mesko averaged a career-best 52.8 yards per punt in four punts against Notre Dame last week.

The watch list for the Ray Guy Award will be trimmed to 10 and then three in November, and the winner will be announced during the ESPNU Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 11.

Joe Vardon

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