Preseason Honors for Baylor's Palmer Williams
Senior punter Palmer Williams of Baylor has been selected to the First‑Team Preseason All‑America squad by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, a distinction that underscores his dominance on the field.
Hailing from Advance, North Carolina, Williams capped his 2025 campaign with a nation‑leading net punting average of 45.0 yards, a performance that also earned him a finalist spot for the prestigious Ray Guy Award.
His career trajectory is punctuated by 39 punts of at least 50 yards, placing him seventh in Baylor history, and a career average of 46.55 yards per punt that tops the program’s record books. In 2024 he posted a 49.35‑yard average on 43 attempts, the finest single season in Bears punting history.
The Bears will open the 2026 season on September 5 when they travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to face Auburn University. The matchup will be televised live on ABC, promising a high‑profile start to the year.
Williams’ recognition reflects not only individual excellence but also the growing prominence of Baylor’s special teams unit, a facet that could prove pivotal as the program seeks to build on recent successes.
Coach Dave Aranda praised Williams’ work ethic and consistency, noting that the punter’s ability to flip field position will be a strategic advantage for the Bears in the upcoming campaign.