This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Punters are All-Americans, too, as Utah football well knows.
Utes sophomore Mitch Wishnowsky, the successor to Utah's last All-American punter, http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/list/all-americans-college-football-lamar-jackson-dalvin-cook-jonathan-allen-jabrill-peppers-curtis-samuel/jgof2u6vyj9315y48m3u9uoz0/slide/25";>has made The Sporting News' team — one of five necessary to become a consensus All-American.
The Utes replaced an all-time great in Tom Hackett, but http://bit.ly/2fpcLQi";>Wishnowsky picked up right where he left off, leading the nation in net punting (44.9) and leading the country for most of the year in punt average (48.0). He knocked 34 punts inside the 20, and 17 punts inside the 10.
For the year, Wishnowsky led the nation with 28 punts of 50 yards or more, and didn't have a touchback after his season debut against SUU.
Hackett was the Sporting News' All-American punter last year.
Other teams who have honored Wishnowsky: SB Nation, Sports on Earth, College Sports Madness and Pro Football Focus.
Wishnowsky is up to win Utah's third straight Ray Guy Award as the nation's best punter, attending the College Football Awards show in Atlanta as a finalist. The show will air Thursday night at 5 p.m. MST on ESPN.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon