Once the top football player in Warren County, Devon Bell was recognized on Thursday as one of the best in the country.

The Mississippi State punter and former Warren Central star was one of 25 players named to the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the country’s top college punter.

Ole Miss’ Will Gleeson was also on the watch list.

Bell was the 2011 Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year. He’s the only special teams player to earn that distinction in its 27-year history.

Last season with Mississippi State, Bell ranked 23rd in the Football Bowl Subdivision with an average of 43.2 yards per punt. Twelve of his 50 punts went for more than 50 yards, and 18 were downed inside the 20.

The senior has also handled kickoff and placekicking duties during his career in Starkville, and served as the holder for field goals and PATs last season..

In 2014, Bell had 11 touchbacks on 29 kickoffs. In 2013, he had 25 touchdowns on 66 kickoffs. For his career, Bell has 49 touchbacks on 159 kickoffs.

Bell was one of the team’s placekickers as a freshman and sophomore, but lost the job because of inaccuracy. In his two seasons of kicking, Bell was 68-for-70 on PAT attempts, but just 20-for-35 on field goals.

Ten semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award will be announced on Nov. 13. A national body of FBS sports information directors, coaches, media representatives and previous Ray Guy Award winners will then vote for the top three finalists, to be announced Nov. 23.

After the finalists are named, the voting body will cast ballots again to select the nation’s top punter. The winner will be announced live during The Home Depot College Football Awards airing on ESPN on Dec. 10.

The Ray Guy Award was created by the Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council in 2000 to honor the former Southern Miss star who is widely considered the greatest punter of all time. Guy is a native of Thomson, Ga.

In addition to outstanding statistics, the winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team’s success.