BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell newcomer
Brandon Bowman has been named to the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year Award Preseason Watch List by the Augusta Sports Council.
The watch list, which honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the Football Championship Series (FCS), includes 14 student-athletes on its preseason edition.
2026 FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List
Liam Allen IV, Howard
Brandon Bowman, Campbell
Logan Chenette, Stonehill
Brady Clark, Princeton
Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn State
Ryan Marks, Utah Tech
Charlie Mullen, Tarleton State
Max Pelham, South Dakota State
Connor Poole, Lehigh
Emiliano Salazar, San Diego
Ben Shrewsbury, Virginia Military Institute
Luke Silvernale, North Dakota
Brett Starling, Hampton
Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling, UTRGV
Bowman, a Harrisburg, N.C. native, heads into his first season at Campbell, transferring from North Carolina Central where he was named a 2025 honorable mention BOXTOROW HBCU All-American, as well as First Team All-MEAC at punter. The senior was also named to the MEAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll following the 2025 season, his only year in Durham after starting his collegiate career at NCAA Division II member North Greenville.
The 14 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FCS punters and were compiled based on previous FCS Punter of the Year semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Conference selections. This is not a final list as the winner of the FCS Punter of the Year Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list.
The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be determined by the FCS Punter of the Year Award national voting body, which consists of FCS sports information directors and national sports writers.
About the FCS Punter of the Year Award
The Augusta Sports Council, also home to the Ray Guy Award (awarded to the best collegiate punter in the FBS), created the FCS Punter of the Year Award in 2019 to honor the best collegiate punter playing in the FCS. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned, with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
About the Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta, GA area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates, and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta's River Region. Visit www.augustasportscouncil.org to learn more.
