Florida Football: Jeremy Crawshaw earns spot on Ray Guy Award's "Ray's 8" list

The importance of special teams can sometimes be overlooked. Yet, for the Florida Gators, the spotlight has found its way to an often underappreciated position: the punter.

Jeremy Crawshaw, a senior from Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia, is proving that a punter can be one of the most valuable assets on a football field.

Crawshaw’s recent performance in Florida's week one contest against Miami earned him a place on the Ray Guy Award’s prestigious "Ray’s 8" list, which recognizes the top punters in college football each week.

Against Miami, Crawshaw was called upon to punt five times. Three of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, two exceeding 50 yards. His longest punt—a 61-yard bomb—was downed at Miami's 7-yard line and returned to the 14, showcasing not just distance but precision.

But perhaps the most impressive moment came in the first quarter when Crawshaw lofted a 38-yard punt that was downed at the Miami 3-yard line.

Crawshaw’s consistency is not a new phenomenon. Entering his fifth season with the Gators, and his fourth as the starting punter, Crawshaw has been rewriting the record books at Florida. In 2023, he set career and single-season program records with an average of 46.7 yards per punt over his career and 48.9 yards per punt in a single season.

These numbers aren’t just impressive—they’re historic. His achievements earned him a spot on the Associated Press All-SEC Second-Team and various preseason honors from CFN, Athlon Sports, Sporting News, and Phil Steele.

Crawshaw’s journey to Gainesville is as intriguing as his play on the field. Discovered by Florida’s previous coaching staff through ProKick Australia—an organization established to help Australian athletes reach collegiate and NFL levels—Crawshaw has been a cornerstone of Florida's special teams since 2021.

His rookie season saw him average 44.1 yards per attempt, with 20 of his punts exceeding 50 yards and nearly half downed inside the 20-yard line. His immediate impact earned him All-SEC Freshman Team honors, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Now entering his fifth year, Crawshaw exudes confidence. “I don’t have to make big leaps anymore,” he said. “I’m just fine-tuning things...Confidence is through the roof and I’m very excited for what this year holds.”

This confidence is evident in his performance. Despite being absent from the preseason Ray Guy Award Watch List, Crawshaw’s week one performance solidified his place among the nation’s elite punters.

Florida head coach Billy Napier summarized Crawshaw’s value to the team, stating, “Special teams was the bright spot... Probably the best I’ve been around as a head coach to be quite honest.”