USF Athletics

2016-17 RAY GUY AWARD CANDIDATE

HERNANDEZ’S CAREER HIGHS
Punts            11, at San Jose State (8/26/17)
Yards            452, at San Jose State (8/26/17)
Average       49.8, at Tulane (10/21/17)
Long             66, vs. UCF (11/26/16)
Inside 20      5, 2X last at SMU (11/19/16)

USF CAREER: Hernandez was a two-year starter for the Bulls after transferring from Florida State and joining USF as a walk-on. He punted 61 times for a 43.4 yard average in 2017, coming just shy of the USF season record of 44.4 to rank second all-time on the season charts. Hernandez averaged 42.3 yards per punt on his USF career, again coming just shy of the USF career mark of 42.5 and ranking second on the career charts. He played in 25 games, punting 124 times for 5,246 yards with 38 balls downed inside the 20 and 26 punts of 50 or more yards on his USF career.

2017: Punted 61 times for 2,649 yards for an average of 43.4 yards, just shy of the USF season record of 44.4 yards per punt to rank second all-time on the season charts… he average 42.3 yards per punt on his career, nearly reaching USF’s career punt average mark of 42.5 yards to finish second on the career charts… set career highs with 11 punts for 452 yards in the season opener at San Jose State (8/26)… set another career high with a 49.8 yard average at Tulane (10/21)…. punted three times for a 47.7 yard average against Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl (12/23)... started the season on the Ray Guy Award watch list.

2016: Transferred to USF from Florida State in the summer of 2016...was a walk-on at Florida State and joined USF as a walk-on, so he was immediately eligible to compete for the Bulls...earned the starting job at punter prior to the start of the season...after a strong showing in his first five games, Hernandez was added to the Ray Guy Award candidate watch list in October...punted in all 13 games…his 25 punts inside the 20 and 12 punts of 50-plus yards both ranked second in The American…ranked seventh on USF’s season chart with 2,597 punting yards… posted a 41.2 yard average on 63 punts…set career highs with 361 yards and a long of 66 yards while tying his career high with eight punts against UCF (11/26)…also punted eight times for 313 yards, including a 57-yarder, with five punts inside the 20 in the win over SMU (11/19)…his five punts inside the 20 against SMU tied a USF sing-game record reached by three other players…posted a career-best average of 47.5 yards against FSU (9/24).

FLORIDA STATE: A preferred walk-on punter for the Seminoles in 2013...spent three seasons with the team, redshirting his first year...punted in one game while at FSU, punting once for 37 yards during the 2015 season.

MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL: Hernandez played one season at Manatee HS...was a kicker and punter or the Hurricanes...averaged 41.4 yards per punt in his one varsity year...kicked off 42 times with 31 touchbacks, and made all seven extra points he attempted...selected to participate in the Sarasota vs. Manatee All-Star game...had multiple offers from Division II schools....also did kickoffs and was the holder on field goal attempts...also played soccer.

PERSONAL: Majoring in Art History.