Oklahoma State Specialists Named to Preseason Award Watch Lists

STILLWATER – Preseason award watch list season continues, this time for the specialists as both Alex Hale and Tom Hutton were named to lists Wednesday morning.

Hale was named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award preseason watch list and Hutton to the Ray Guy Award preseason watch list.

Hale is one of just three Big 12 place kickers to be named to the list, while Hutton is one of five Big 12 punters.

Hale, who is from Point Frederick, NSW, Australia, is entering his junior season with the Pokes and is coming off an honorable mention All-Big 12 season last year, despite missing the last five games of the season due to a knee injury.

Prior to the Bedlam game when he got hurt, Hale led the FBS with 2.17 made field goals per game and was kicking at a 92.9% rate on field goals having made 13-of-14 before his injury. He’s one of just 16 FBS place kickers on the list who attempted at least 10 field goals in 2020 and connected on at least 85% of them.

As for Hutton, he’s out of Newborough, VI, Australia, and is also entering his junior season with the Pokes. He’s one of 51 players nationally named to the preseason watch list, which is annually awards to the nation’s best punter.

Hutton finished the 2020 season with 59 punts for an average of 40.5 yards per punt. However, it’s Hutton’s placement of the footballs that makes him so valuable. Oklahoma State’s punt return defense led the Big 12 and was among one of the best in all of FBS in 2020 as it allowed just 1.5 yards per punt return.