Trevor Hankins is taking the right steps.

The junior punter, in his first full season with the job, has been named a candidate for the Ray Guy Award, an award given to the nation’s top punter each season.

A slight adjustment to his punting routine has made all the difference, Hankins said.

“Taking short steps and getting the ball off a little quicker is what the coaches stressed at me last year,” he said. “I took a step off and it’s really helped.”

Hankins is currently second in the nation in punting average at 45.54 yards per punt.

Georgia punter Drew Butler is first in the country with a 49.71-yard average.

While Hankins got some opportunities in 2008 — he averaged 37.1 on seven punts — he could not wrestle the starting job from junior kicker Thomas Weber.

This summer, Hankins went to work, determined to win the job.

“It was about just being more consistent, which [the coaching staff] has been asking me to do since last year,” said Hankins, a product of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. “I’ve just been trying to hit the ball down the middle and let it carry a little bit.”

Hankins, who has pinned 10 of his punts inside the 20-yard line and hasn’t had a kick blocked, said Weber has been instrumental in providing key pieces of advice about punting form.

“He’s probably our most consistent punter,” Hankins said of his friend and teammate Weber. “A lot of times, when little things here or there go wrong, he’s there to set you straight and put you back in line.”

Sophomore long snapper Thomas Ohmart, who has been charged with getting the ball to Hankins as a punter and as a holder on Weber’s kicks, said an improved level of confidence has been one of the biggest reasons for Hankins’ improvement.

“[Punting] is a lot like snapping. Once you have the form right, the rest will come,” Ohmart said. “Doing a lot of reps and getting his mind right is the biggest thing, just going out there and doing what he knows how to do.”

Hankins, Ohmart and Weber have become good friends over the past two seasons, as the three Sun Devils spend afternoons together perfecting their crafts on the sidelines.

Like any good pals, Ohmart and Weber were glad to see Hankins win the punting job before the first game of the season. The unit would love to earn a Ray Guy Award to go along with the Lou Groza Award Weber won in 2007 as the nation’s best kicker.

“I think it’d be pretty cool,” Ohmart said. “We’ve already got the Lou Groza winner. I don’t know if there’s an award for snappers, but that’d be cool, too.”

Said Hankins on being nominated: “It’s very humbling. Being nominated for the Ray Guy is a big deal, so it’s pretty cool.”

Injury note

Junior wide receiver Kerry Taylor (hamstring) participated fully in practice on Thursday and looked like he will be ready to play against USC on Saturday.

Senior center Thomas Altieri practiced on Thursday, but his game status is uncertain.

Reach the reporter at nkosmide@asu.edu.