Two Texas Longhorns Named to Preseason Watch Lists

Two Texas Longhorns have been added to award watch lists: junior kicker Bert Auburn was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list and senior punter Ryan Sanborn was recognized to the Ray Guy Award watch list, both announced on Wednesday.

The Lou Groza Award honors the top-place kicker of college football. When Auburn landed on the watch list on Wednesday, it marked the first time in his collegiate career that his name was recognized on the preseason list. 

Auburn was named honorable mention All-Big 12 last season after completing 21-of-26 field goal attempts (80.8%). His recorded 118 total points in 2022 were enough for Auburn to rank at No. 2 amongst all Big 12 conference kickers.

His 118 points last season were sufficient for Auburn to claim the eighth-most points in a season and the second-highest single-season total for a Longhorn kicker in Texas football program history.

The watch list for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will be narrowed 20 semifinalists on Thursday, Nov. 9.

The Ray Guy Award honors the greatest punter in college football. Sanborn is no stranger to the college football's best punter watch list since this would be the third straight year he was added to the list. 

Sanborn is a graduate transfer from Stanford and made 42 game appearances with the Cardinal within four seasons. He punted 192 times for a total of 7,980 yards (41.6 ypp). 

In 2020 and 2022, Sanborn claimed the All-Pac 12 honorable mention selections. As a senior last year, Sanborn punted 57 times for 2,376 yards, recording 41.7 yards per punt.

The watch list for the Ray Guy Award will be narrowed 10 semifinalists on Nov. 10 by the Ray Guy Award committee.