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NCAA FBS Individual Punt Returns

Punt Returns

G PRYd Yds Avg
S.Phillips, Iowa 12 1 46 46.0
J.Berchal, Appalachian St. 9 1 45 45.0
J.Carrillo, Fresno St. 11 1 42 42.0
J.Bradley, UNLV 13 1 36 36.0
L.Styles, Ohio St. 11 1 36 36.0
D.Ponds, Indiana 12 1 33 33.0
L.McCoy, Florida St. 10 1 32 32.0
K.Sanders, Rutgers 12 2 63 31.5
M.Benson, Oregon 12 3 91 30.3
J.Tucker, Coastal Carolina 12 1 30 30.0
K.McGee, UNLV 12 1 29 29.0
K.Wetjen, Iowa 12 19 538 28.3
J.Stokes, South Florida 11 1 28 28.0
K.Dia-Johnson, Umass 9 1 27 27.0
D.Lee, Alabama 13 1 27 27.0
A.Flora, Iowa St. 10 8 209 26.1
J.Vandeross, Toledo 12 1 26 26.0
J.Conn, Nebraska 10 1 25 25.0
K.Kirkland, Florida St. 12 1 25 25.0
K.Robinson, Virginia 8 1 25 25.0
K.Duplessis, Delaware 12 3 73 24.3
M.Landolfi, Boston College 1 1 24 24.0
P.Prioleau, Virginia Tech 11 1 24 24.0
J.Roberts, FAU 12 1 24 24.0
R.Niblett, Texas 12 19 448 23.6
J.Kinnard, Colorado St. 11 6 138 23.0
M.Singleton, Louisiana Tech 9 2 46 23.0
E.Butler, San Diego St. 11 1 22 22.0
L.Talich, Notre Dame 12 1 22 22.0
I.Mozee, Nebraska 12 2 43 21.5
J.Curtis, Vanderbilt 6 1 21 21.0
A.Isaac, South Florida 12 6 126 21.0
K.Nelson, N. Illinois 4 1 21 21.0
D.Reid, Pittsburgh 7 5 105 21.0
D.Rogers, FAU 11 1 21 21.0
K.Valsin, Texas Tech 12 1 21 21.0
E.Messer, FAU 12 12 250 20.8
K.Concepcion, Texas A&M 12 23 460 20.0
T.Johnson, Notre Dame 10 1 20 20.0
C.Lacy, Louisville 12 22 440 20.0
C.Smalley, Nevada 12 1 20 20.0
E.Williams, Toledo 9 1 19 19.0
C.Hendricks, Ohio 12 8 143 17.9
D.McKinney, New Mexico 12 4 71 17.8
J.Brady, Indiana 13 18 315 17.5
G.Tempest, Tulsa 10 3 52 17.3
J.Agee, Miami (Ohio) 11 1 17 17.0
L.Thomas, Notre Dame 10 1 17 17.0
T.Freeman, Washington St. 12 23 386 16.8
D.DeBlanc, Wyoming 11 10 167 16.7
H.Beatty, Illinois 12 13 213 16.4
B.Drillette, Louisiana-Monroe 12 1 16 16.0
A.Ward, Washington 12 1 16 16.0
V.Swain, South Carolina 12 19 302 15.9
R.Brown, Arizona St. 12 2 31 15.5
J.Bermudez, Temple 12 10 150 15.0
Y.Green, UTEP 9 1 15 15.0
J.McClellan, Oregon 12 1 15 15.0
D.Myers, Colorado St. 7 1 15 15.0
W.Simmons, Arkansas 12 1 15 15.0
L.Smith, Sam Houston St. 11 1 15 15.0
R.Clark, Washington 11 2 29 14.5
J.Thomas, Virginia 9 4 58 14.5
M.Carvalho, Utah 8 15 211 14.1
M.Davis, Southern Miss. 12 3 42 14.0
M.Greer, Buffalo 12 1 14 14.0
G.Harstad, Kansas St. 11 1 14 14.0
C.Ryan, BYU 13 1 14 14.0
K.Taylor, Arkansas St. 11 1 14 14.0
J.Franklin, W. Michigan 13 6 82 13.7
K.Johnson, Pittsburgh 12 13 177 13.6
R.Glover, Utah 10 6 81 13.5
C.Eakin, Texas Tech 13 9 121 13.4
M.Toney, Miami 12 14 187 13.4
W.Harris, Kent St. 12 16 211 13.2
I.Sategna, Oklahoma 12 23 301 13.1
D.Boston, Washington 11 8 104 13.0
C.Robinson, Navy 9 1 13 13.0
Q.Brown, Duke 13 9 116 12.9
P.Kingston, BYU 13 15 192 12.8
V.Brown, Florida 10 11 139 12.6
K.Coleman, Missouri 12 15 189 12.6
A.Jackson, UCF 12 14 175 12.5
O.Kelly, Michigan St. 12 12 150 12.5
R.Williams, Alabama 12 2 25 12.5
C.Hernandez, Wake Forest 12 20 249 12.4
J.Nicholas, Charlotte 12 8 99 12.4
B.Hammer, Toledo 12 27 333 12.3
J.Barney, Nebraska 12 22 270 12.3
A.Evans, Mississippi St. 12 11 134 12.2
B.Carter, Tennessee 9 12 145 12.1
Z.Branch, Georgia 13 13 157 12.1
D.Roche, Old Dominion 10 18 217 12.1
J.Abdullah, Virginia 4 1 12 12.0
J.Bonelli, Arkansas St. 12 1 12 12.0
G.Robinson, Nevada 2 3 36 12.0
T.Stewart, Temple 9 2 24 12.0
M.Lemon, Southern Cal 12 6 71 11.8
N.Henry, UTEP 8 4 47 11.8
A.Marsh, Michigan 12 3 35 11.7
D.Lacey, Marshall 12 18 207 11.5
S.White-Helton, Georgia 13 5 57 11.4
D.Voisin, South Alabama 12 11 125 11.4
J.De Jesus, California 12 20 225 11.2
B.Inniss, Ohio St. 13 16 178 11.1
K.Beasley, Miami (Ohio) 13 1 11 11.0
J.Bennee, Utah 12 1 11 11.0
C.Curry, Ohio St. 13 1 11 11.0
J.Dwyer, TCU 12 7 77 11.0
I.Hooks, UAB 12 10 110 11.0
M. Jackson, Indiana 4 1 11 11.0
D.Moore, Oregon 8 4 44 11.0
E.Rivers, Georgia Tech 12 9 99 11.0
D.Taylor, Colorado 4 1 11 11.0
A.Williams, Clemson 10 4 44 11.0
V.Snow, Buffalo 12 20 213 10.6
L.Wysong, Arizona 12 12 124 10.3
J.Faison, Notre Dame 12 15 153 10.2
T.Pena, Penn St. 12 7 71 10.1
L.Benson, Army 12 8 80 10.0
C.Byrd, Clemson 4 1 10 10.0
L.Cleveland, Oklahoma St. 12 1 10 10.0
J.Elad, Rutgers 12 1 10 10.0
J.Preston, Clemson 1 1 10 10.0
C.Regan, James Madison 13 1 10 10.0
Y.Knight, SMU 12 17 168 9.9
L.Billups-Williams, Miami (Ohio) 13 17 166 9.8
I.Farris, Boston College 12 8 78 9.8
J.Patterson, Arizona 4 8 78 9.8
D.Samuel, Syracuse 12 4 39 9.8
D.Fowlkes, Missouri 10 3 29 9.7
B.Stockton, Georgia Tech 10 6 58 9.7
P.Fox, West Virginia 10 11 106 9.6
J.Barnes, Appalachian St. 10 16 154 9.6
T.Bachmeier, BYU 13 5 48 9.6
M.Delhomme, Maryland 12 2 19 9.5
O.Smith, Maryland 12 2 19 9.5
Z.Thomas, LSU 12 15 142 9.5
G.Benyard, Kennesaw St. 13 25 234 9.4
Z.Sample, Arizona St. 10 11 101 9.2
J.Salas, E. Michigan 12 6 55 9.2
S.White, Florida St. 10 7 64 9.1
W.Knight, James Madison 13 20 181 9.0
B.Finney, Oregon 12 2 18 9.0
W.Hardy, North Carolina 12 8 72 9.0
R.Joseph, Miami 3 1 9 9.0
C.Martinez, Boston College 5 1 9 9.0
C.Nix, Jacksonville St. 12 3 27 9.0
P.Plott, Georgia Southern 11 8 72 9.0
B.Rowe, South Carolina 11 1 9 9.0
J.Williams, Texas Tech 13 3 27 9.0
R.Williams, Pittsburgh 12 1 9 9.0
J.Zamora, Southern Cal 9 2 18 9.0
D.Latulas, Louisiana Tech 12 19 170 8.9
D.Ross, Penn St. 12 8 71 8.9
T.Bussey, Texas A&M 12 7 62 8.9
J.Napier, San Diego St. 10 22 193 8.8
C.Adams, Alabama 13 17 148 8.7
T.Henry, Wisconsin 10 10 87 8.7
D.Luke, Missouri St. 12 10 86 8.6
T.King, New Mexico St. 8 7 60 8.6
J.Godfrey, Louisiana-Monroe 11 9 77 8.6
T.Maher, Colorado St. 12 7 59 8.4
B.Chatman, Navy 12 6 50 8.3
J.Harper, Uconn 12 18 150 8.3
S.Smith, Memphis 12 15 125 8.3
K.Pearson, East Carolina 10 10 83 8.3
N.Gladding, Old Dominion 12 4 33 8.2
J.Cameron, Baylor 12 17 139 8.2
C.Ross, Virginia 12 21 170 8.1
B.Graves, Coastal Carolina 12 13 105 8.1
H.Wallace, Mississippi 12 14 113 8.1
A.Foster, Southern Miss. 12 1 8 8.0
J.Middlebrook, Middle Tennessee 11 8 64 8.0
O.Miles, Texas Tech 12 1 8 8.0
D.Moore, Texas 11 1 8 8.0
D.Morris, Tennessee 6 3 24 8.0
B.Richardson, UCF 6 1 8 8.0
C.Spann, Cent. Michigan 12 8 64 8.0
T.Walker, Oregon St. 12 10 80 8.0
M.Covey, Cincinnati 12 13 103 7.9
L.Sides, North Texas 12 5 39 7.8
B.Wesco, Clemson 7 10 78 7.8
D.Rogers, N. Illinois 12 9 70 7.8
E.Metcalf, Southern Miss. 12 12 93 7.8
L.Thorpe, Stanford 11 4 31 7.8
J.Farooq, Maryland 12 6 46 7.7
T.Gentry, Texas Tech 7 10 76 7.6
M.Anderson, FIU 12 6 45 7.5
S.Evans, North Texas 13 2 15 7.5
I.Spencer, Virginia Tech 12 12 88 7.3
Q.Gibson, Colorado 12 4 29 7.2
J.Green, North Carolina 11 9 65 7.2
G.Bryant, Oregon 9 13 93 7.2
J.Thomas, San Jose St. 12 7 50 7.1
C.Coenen, Wyoming 12 10 71 7.1
E.Brow, UTSA 8 6 42 7.0
R.Capell, Oklahoma St. 11 1 7 7.0
M.Harrison-Pilot, Texas Tech 11 1 7 7.0
C.Hoch, San Jose St. 12 1 7 7.0
C.Jnopierre, FIU 10 7 49 7.0
J.Thaw, Delaware 10 3 21 7.0
M.Hight, Vanderbilt 12 11 76 6.9
T.Nagy, Kansas 12 17 116 6.8
K.Perich, Minnesota 12 17 114 6.7
E.Allen, Sam Houston St. 12 10 67 6.7
Q.Farrakhan, Colorado 10 5 33 6.6
C.Comella, Boston College 11 4 26 6.5
D.Thomas, UCF 12 2 13 6.5
T.Uiliata, Hawaii 12 12 77 6.4
B.Ridley, Bowling Green 12 17 109 6.4
K.Courtney, Virginia 13 3 19 6.3
M.Rodarte, Ohio 4 3 19 6.3
M.Mews, Houston 12 20 126 6.3
J.Malau’ulu, Fresno St. 12 19 117 6.2
M.Bellon, Nevada 10 13 80 6.2
D.Amador, UTSA 11 11 66 6.0
J.Ballard, Wisconsin 11 1 6 6.0
J.Baugh, Florida 12 1 6 6.0
T.Brown, Vanderbilt 11 1 6 6.0
T.Burns, Sam Houston St. 12 2 12 6.0
S.Demps, FIU 6 1 6 6.0
K.Kubecka, Kansas 12 3 18 6.0
J.Lucas, Florida St. 12 3 18 6.0
K.Mikell, Colorado 10 1 6 6.0
C.Neptune, South Florida 10 2 12 6.0
D.Sheffield, Rutgers 12 2 12 6.0
E.Willis, UTEP 11 15 88 5.9
J.Gaston, Middle Tennessee 9 7 41 5.9
M.Sherrod, Boise St. 14 13 75 5.8
P.Higgins, Troy 13 17 98 5.8
K.Shanks, Arkansas 12 17 97 5.7
B.Sparks, Texas State 12 12 68 5.7
J.McLaurin, Maryland 4 5 28 5.6
J.Porter, South Florida 10 10 56 5.6
Z.Booker, Tulsa 9 8 44 5.5
T.Holloway, Virginia Tech 4 5 27 5.4
S.Patrick, Akron 10 8 43 5.4
A.Blancas, Arkansas St. 11 20 105 5.2
M.Matthews, UCLA 12 9 47 5.2
T.Bryant, Kentucky 12 7 36 5.1
M.Coleman, North Texas 11 7 36 5.1
T.Thompson, Rice 11 7 36 5.1
C.Blaylock, South Alabama 12 1 5 5.0
K.Brown, UAB 10 1 5 5.0
R.Frischknecht, BYU 5 1 5 5.0
A.Waseem, FAU 12 1 5 5.0
K.Davis, Utah St. 12 6 29 4.8
O.Hayes, Tulane 13 12 58 4.8
K.Thomas, UTEP 2 5 24 4.8
T.Anderson, NC State 12 6 27 4.5
B.Golden, Louisville 4 2 9 4.5
S.Lockett, Kansas St. 12 13 56 4.3
R.Cooper, Maryland 11 2 8 4.0
C.Creel, Jacksonville St. 13 1 4 4.0
J.DaCosta, Wyoming 12 1 4 4.0
C.DeVries, BYU 12 1 4 4.0
B.Farrell, Stanford 12 1 4 4.0
G.Freeman, Oklahoma St. 12 17 68 4.0
C.Hardy, Virginia 13 1 4 4.0
Q.Henicle, Old Dominion 7 1 4 4.0
T.Hoffmann, NC State 12 8 32 4.0
Q.Magwood, Ball St. 12 3 12 4.0
A.Muhammad, Middle Tennessee 12 1 4 4.0
N.Trujillo, Louisiana-Monroe 8 1 4 4.0
J.Williams, Georgia 13 1 4 4.0
I.Zay, Toledo 12 1 4 4.0
J.Jacobs, Utah St. 12 8 31 3.9
M.Welsh, San Diego St. 11 8 31 3.9
M.Simmons, Auburn 11 16 60 3.8
J.Mack, W. Kentucky 8 3 11 3.7
M.Scott, James Madison 12 2 7 3.5
M.Jackson, Purdue 12 8 26 3.2
M.Pettway, Jacksonville St. 10 5 16 3.2
T.Pride, New Mexico St. 12 10 32 3.2
D.Irvin, UNLV 13 12 38 3.2
D.Kerr, Syracuse 12 6 19 3.2
D.Roebuck, Washington 13 7 22 3.1
P.Gladney, Georgia Southern 12 1 3 3.0
B.Green, Liberty 10 2 6 3.0
I.Hartrup, Mississippi 12 2 6 3.0
E.Hazzard, Louisville 4 1 3 3.0
Q.Jackson, Rice 12 1 3 3.0
J.Lewis, Ball St. 12 6 18 3.0
J.Maclin, Kentucky 10 3 9 3.0
R.Smith, Liberty 12 10 30 3.0
L.Struck, Old Dominion 12 1 3 3.0
T.Thomas, Akron 11 1 3 3.0
W.Yates, Ball St. 10 1 3 3.0
R.Williams, Louisiana-Lafayette 11 8 22 2.8
C.Harris, Air Force 12 3 8 2.7
K.Law, Kentucky 12 3 8 2.7
D.Eley, Charlotte 11 2 5 2.5
R.Johnson, Missouri St. 12 4 10 2.5
X.Townsend, Iowa St. 10 2 5 2.5
I.Williams, Texas A&M 5 3 7 2.3
S.Morgan, Michigan 10 13 30 2.3
K.Massey, Umass 9 4 9 2.2
D.Austin, Oregon 11 1 2 2.0
K.Boone-Nelson, W. Michigan 11 8 16 2.0

Ryan Fox wins first career major at 2026 Open Championship

CNN
(CNN) — Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug after draining a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.The 39-year-old Fox beat out American Cameron Young to win his first career major title, becoming only the third New Zealander to win a men’s major golf championship.Fox came into the final hole tied with Young, after the 29-year-old finished the round at 6-under 64 a few hours before.The Kiwi powered his drive into the middle of the fairway and then set up the biggest putt of his golf career so far with an approach shot that landed about 12 feet from the pin.As the putt fell into the hole, the crowd in Southport, England, gave Fox a rousing ovation as he raised both arms in the air to celebrate the achievement.The putt capped off four birdies in the last six holes for Fox.Fox was at a loss for words while speaking to the NBC Sports broadcast after the win.“I don’t really know what to think at the moment. I’ve got a lot of people to thank. First of all, my family. My wife and kids are in Florida at the moment. I spoke to my kids last night and they said, bring back a trophy. I think that’s a pretty cool one to bring back for them,” Fox said. “My family back in New Zealand and all my supporters back there. I know it’s been a long night for them, but I’m glad it was worthwhile.”Fox finished with a 2-under 68 after trailing Sam Burns, who held a two-stroke lead coming into Sunday’s final round.Fox also becomes the third-oldest major winner in the last 10 years, trailing only Phil Mickelson at the 2021 PGA Championship and Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters.“Just an unbelievable week. The golf course was fantastic. The English weather was fantastic. You guys out there were fantastic. The support was amazing. This is pretty cool. I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten anyone, but thank you very much,” Fox added.It is another disappointment for Young, who is still looking for his first career major title despite winning The Players earlier this year. Young finished one shot back of the win at the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews and held the lead heading into the final round at the Masters back in April.It is also another let down for Burns, another golfer looking for his maiden major win.The Louisiana State University alum came into the round ahead by two strokes but quickly lost it and went birdie-free for the final 12 holes.“(Fox) is a well-earned champion and hats off to him,” Burns said. “He did what he needed to do down the stretch and ultimately just came up a couple short today.”Defending champion Scottie Scheffler stayed within striking range throughout the round, but wound up with a 3-under 67 on Sunday to finish tied for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood.After a drama-filled tournament, Bryson DeChambeau finished tied for 14th while Rory McIlroy, who has been critical of the LIV Golfer all tournament long, ended tied for 40th.Fox’s journey to first major winFox’s road to his first career major title wasn’t the easiest. It came with many bumps and U-turns.While speaking to CNN’s Don Riddell ahead of the Desert Classic in Dubai in early 2025, Fox opened up about his mental health issues, including being an older rookie after spending years on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour of Australia.“I think being a rookie at 37 years old on the PGA Tour was, I probably wasn’t quite prepared for what that was again,” Fox told CNN.“I knew all the golf courses, knew how to travel work, knew where to stay, and everything was new on the PGA Tour, and that was probably a shock to the system more than anything.”Fox comes from a lineage of athletes within his family tree, including his father, Grant Fox, who was a main kicker for the New Zealand national rugby team and his grandfather, Merv Wallace, a former New Zealand cricketer who later coached the national team.Fox spoke out on the “pressure” a golfer faces, mentioning the 2024 death of former PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray, whose parents later confirmed it was death by suicide.“It can be a stressful life. It’s all performance-based. There’s a lot of pressure on – Looking after your mental health is really, really important, and having people to talk to and all of that is part of that,” Fox said.“It’s a shame it got to that point with Grayson that, you know, we’ve had to have those, those pretty tough conversations now, but it will help – hopefully it helps someone else in a similar situation going forward because we certainly don’t want to see it again.”CNN’s Kyle Tatelbaum and Don Riddell contributed to this reporting This write has been updated with additional reporting The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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