Nov. 11, 1997
Williams Named Tatupu Award Finalist
Arizona State punter Marcus Williams was named one of 16 finalists for the first-ever Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Award, spnosored by the Hula Bowl. The award will be presented to the best NCAA Division I-A college football special teams player.
Williams is averaging 43.6 yards per punt in 1997, the best for a Sun Devil since 1984. He was named Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week following his record 53.6-yard average on seven punts against Washington State.
The senior from Tempe, Ariz., ranks second in the Pac-10 on punts. The Sun Devils rank seventh in the country with a 41.0 net punting average.
Williams also handles ASU's kickoff duties and has booted 24 touchbacks in ASU's 51 kickoffs. Opponents are, on average, starting at their own 21.4 yard line after an ASU kickoff and are averaging 19.0 yards per return.
Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Award Finalists
Marcus Williams, ASU John Avery, Mississippi Jason Bloom, New Mexico Tim Curry, Air Force Matt Davenport, Wisconsin Tim Dwight, Iowa Martin Gramatica, Kansas State Dane Johnson, Texas Tech Shane Lechler, Texas A&M Brock Olivo, Missouri Brad Palazzo, Tulane Allen Rossum, Notre Dame Anthony Scotti, SMU Ryan Sutter, Colorado Fred White, Tennessee Rodney Williams, Georgia Tech