MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama punter Corliss Waitman continued to receive preseason recognition Thursday as the senior was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
Waitman has been selected to two different preseason All-American teams. Earlier this month, Waitman was named second-team All-America by Sports Illustrated, while also earning third-team All-America from Athlon Sports earlier this summer.
Along with the two All-American squads, the Milton, Fla., native has garnered six other preseason honors heading into the 2018 season. Waitman has been named preseason first-team all-Sun Belt Conference by the league's head coaches and selected media members, while receiving first-team all-Sun Belt honors from Athlon Sports, Lindy's, Phil Steele Publications and Street & Smith's. The Jag senior was also named to the 2018 preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's top collegiate punter, last month.
As a junior in 2017, Waitman was an honorable mention selection on the inaugural All-American Punter team after he ranked third on the organization's top five list of Coffin Kickers with an 89.86 rating. Waitman was also a first-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection and named first-team all-league by Phil Steele Publications after averaging a school-record 45.24 yards per punt, which ranked first in the conference and eighth in the country; he posted 26 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line with 21 punts of 50-plus yards as well. Waitman's efforts helped South end the campaign ranked first in the Sun Belt and seventh in the country in net punting.
Waitman posted an average of 45 yards or higher in seven of 12 contests and had at least two punts inside the 20 nine different times. He was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week after having career-high four of five punts end inside the 20 while averaging 46.4 yards at Georgia State.
Waitman's career 43.38 average is the best mark with a minimum of 50 punts on the Jaguars' all-time record list.
Waitman and the Jaguars will open the 2018 schedule on Sept. 1 when they host Louisiana Tech, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. (CDT) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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