Ray Guy Award watch list 2017: 5 favorites to win
By John Buhler
JK Scott
Punter, Alabama Crimson Tide
Will he put it all together finally? JK Scott left his native Colorado to come punt for the national powerhouse that is Alabama Crimson Tide football. Scott has played in multiple College Football Playoff teams and punted on the 2015 National Championship team.
He has the look of a punter that can win games at the next level, but has struggled with his consistency at times the last two years. Few punters in the college game today are as well known as Scott, so if he shows marked improvement, this could be his award to lose.
Alabama feels like a lock to win at least 11 games this year. Unless the Crimson Tide drop two SEC games this year, including the Iron Bowl against arch rival Auburn, Alabama will be playing in the 2017 SEC Championship for the fourth straight season. National exposure is already on Scott’s side to win the Ray Guy Award this December.
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Frankly, Alabama needs him to be the focal point of the team’s special teams unit. Kicker Adam Griffith has graduated and return specialist Eddie Jackson now plays in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Scott is a seasoned veteran in the Alabama special teams corps. It’s time for him to put it all together in 2017. If he does, this is his award to lose.