A year ago James Ferguson-Reynolds knew very little about American football and often had to ask teammates for help with rules and why certain things were happening during a practice or game.
He was halfway around the world from his home in Australia and adjusting to a new country, a new town and life as a college freshman.
He was without his parents, including his mother who was battling breast cancer.
And he was thrust into the starting punter role at Boise State.
It was a lot for anyone to handle. And he predictably struggled.
Ferguson-Reynolds averaged just 37.40 yards on five punts in his first game at Oregon State and he went on to finish 7th in the Mountain West in punting at 41.76 yards per punt. In the final game of the season he averaged just 31.25 yards on four punts in the Frisco Bowl win against North Texas.
Who would have thought we’d be where we are a year later, trying to figure out how Ferguson-Reynolds was left off the list of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award for the nation’s top punter.
Ferguson-Reynolds currently leads the nation in punting at 50.08 yards per punt but wasn’t among the three finalists named Tuesday – causing outrage on social media from coaches, teammates and fans.
“It’s disappointing – numbers don’t lie,” Ferguson-Reynolds said. “But I still have a job to do, still have a game to punt. We still have the championship game and the bowl game, so I’ll go out there and prove myself. I’ll be back.”
Boise State punter James Ferguson-Reynolds celebrates after a strong punt during a game earlier this season. (Photo by Boise State Athletics)
A year ago he had 63 punts – and just seven went for at least 50 yards. Fast forward a year and he’s already boomed 26 punts of at least 50 yards in just 49 total punts. The distance has been more consistent – and he’s been more accurate as well.
Last year there was the worry of a 30-yard shank coming once or twice a game. This year he’s booming 71-yard punts and deadening balls inside the 5. The turnaround is remarkable. And he deserved to be rewarded for it.
Ferguson-Reynolds was named as one of 10 semifinalists a few weeks ago and seemed like a lock to be at least one of the three finalists. But three Power 5 punters – Tory Taylor of Iowa, Matthew Waybill of Vanderbilt and Alex Mastromanno of Florida State – were named the three finalists despite Ferguson-Reynolds averaging more yards per punt.
The three finalists get to travel to the 33rd Annual College Football Awards Show at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn., on Dec. 8th.
“It’s frustrating,” special teams coach Demario Warren said. “He put together a great resume, a great season – one of the best in college football history – so that was frustrating for him.
“I mean he led the whole nation in punting and didn’t get that opportunity to even take the trip. … When you go 12 games like that and put together a resume like that, it’s definitely frustrating for everybody that he didn’t get an opportunity to reap the benefits of getting an invite.”
Taylor was a deserving finalist due to the volume of punts he had to make – 19 more punts than JFR – and still ranking third in the country in total punting average at 47.67 yards per punt. Waybill also had more attempts than Ferguson-Reynolds and ranked fourth at overall at 47.60. The puzzling one was Mastromanno, who was 13th nationally in punting average at just 46.02 yards per punt – more than four yards per punt fewer than Ferguson-Reynolds.
“I’m not sure – obviously Iowa’s punter had way more punts than everybody else in the country but you can’t control those things,” Warren said. “I’m not exactly sure why (he didn’t get picked). I don’t know those guys personally so I don’t know why he wasn’t a part of it, but it’s frustrating.”
Ferguson-Reynolds was also passed over for the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Award, which went to UNLV kicker Jose Pizano.
Boise State punter James Ferguson-Reynolds punts the ball during a game earlier this season. (Photo by Boise State Athletics)
“I think he’s the best specialist in the conference and the country so that’s my opinion and I don’t think anybody is going to change that,” Warren said.
While other fans, coaches and teammates took to social media to bash the Ray Guy committee for not including Ferguson-Reynolds, the sophomore punter instead posted a congratulatory message to the three finalists.
“Very surprising, but it’s just an award,” Ferguson-Reynolds said. “At the end of the day I’m not competing for that. I’ve got my eyes on bigger things. It happens.”
Ferguson-Reynolds credited the improvements mostly to just having a year of experience under his belt. He was more familiar with the game of football, but also the city of Boise and Boise State. And maybe the biggest thing? His mother is doing well and was able to come to the United States with his dad to attend the first five games of the season.
“That had to be a whirlwind for him,” Warren said. “I can’t imagine going to another country…and then have to go play a game I’ve never really played and have big people running at me and trying to kick a ball consistently.”
What else led to the massive improvement this season of nearly 10 yards per punt?
“He realized he didn’t need to know what football was. He had to catch the ball and kick it,” Warren said with a laugh.
That helps, too.
There’s still a chance for Ferguson-Reynolds to get some hardware. He hopes to help the Broncos earn the Mountain West Championship trophy on Saturday at UNLV. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. MT from Allegiant Stadium, and the game will air nationally on FOX.
