AUGUSTA, Ga. (August 20, 2026) – Hampton University's Brett Starling is among the 14 punters on the Augusta Sports Council's Watch List for the 2026 FCS Punter of the Year. The award honors the nation's top collegiate punter in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). 
 
Starling emerged as Hampton's place kicker and punter in 2025 after handling the punting duties in 2024. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt on 65 boots a season ago and had 10 punts inside the 20-yard line and 12 punts of 50 or more yards.

He was also named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List earlier this month.
 
The Hampton, Va. native, earned third team All-CAA honors in 2025 and was named 2026 first-team preseason All-CAA in a vote of the conference's coaches. He was named second-team All-CAA pick by highly-respected Phil Steele. In addition, he is among the top punters in the nation nominated for the Fred Mitchell Punter of the Year Award.
 
Brady Clark (Princeton), Ryan Marks (Utah Tech), Max Pelham (South Dakota State), and Ben Shrewsbury (Virginia Military Institute) were semifinalists for the award in 2025.
 
2026 FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List 
Liam Allen IV, Howard
Brandon Bowman, Campbell
Logan Chenette, Stonehill
Brady Clark, Princeton
Demetrion Duvall, Alcorn State
Ryan Marks, Utah Tech
Charlie Mullen, Tarleton State
Max Pelham, South Dakota State
Connor Poole, Lehigh
Emiliano Salazar, San Diego
Ben Shrewsbury, Virginia Military Institute
Luke Silvernale, North Dakota
BRETT STARLING, HAMPTON
Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling, UTRGV  
 
The 14 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FCS punters and were compiled based on previous FCS Punter of the Year semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Conference selections.