This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. The celebration presented by the Orange Bowl Committee will recognize three finalists at a gala awards banquet in Palm Beach County on Dec. 5.
This year's watch list is headlined by three past finalists, 19 former semifinalists, and some of the best emerging talent in college football. It’s a highly competitive year on the 30-player Watch List for the 2016 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Last year’s winner, Ka’imi Fairbairn, is now a Houston Texan, making this the first season since 2012 that the reigning Groza winner does not return to defend the honor. But . . .
This year's watch list is headlined by three past finalists, 19 former semifinalists, and some of the best emerging talent in college football. It’s a highly competitive year on the 30-player Watch List for the 2016 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Last year’s winner, Ka’imi Fairbairn, is now a Houston Texan, making this the first season since 2012 that the reigning Groza winner does not return to defend the honor. But . . .
. . . last year’s two other finalists, Auburn junior Daniel Carlson and Memphis senior Jake Elliott, are back to vie for the award once again. West Virginia senior Josh Lambert, who was a finalist in 2014, makes it three former finalists to look out for.
They are joined by 16 other kickers who have previously been named semifinalists, including Utah senior Andy Phillips, who has earned the honor in each of his first three years. To put that consistency in perspective, Elliott, Cincinnati junior Andrew Gantz and Arizona State senior Zane Gonzalez are the only other active kickers who have been semifinalists even twice.
Matt Anderson California
Michael Badgley Miami (Fla.)
Jonathan Barnes Louisiana Tech
Drew Brown Nebraska
Daniel Carlson Auburn
Trent Domingue LSU
Jake Elliott Memphis
Elliott Fry South Carolina
Andrew Gantz Cincinnati
Zane Gonzalez Arizona State
Adam Griffith Alabama
Ben Grogan Oklahoma State
Clayton Hatfield Texas Tech
Greg Huegel Clemson
Josh Lambert West Virginia
Cole Murphy Syracuse
Griffin Oakes Indiana
Andy Phillips Utah
Bobby Puyol Connecticut
Tyler Rausa Boise State
Austin Rehkow Idaho
Ryan Santoso Minnesota
Aidan Schneider Oregon
Austin Siebert Oklahoma
Joey Slye Virginia Tech
Nick Smith Marshall
Cameron Van Winkle Washington
Nick Weiler North Carolina
Justin Yoon Notre Dame
Brent Zuzo Nevada
While nearly all of the Watch List members are upperclassmen, four sophomores earned their way on after stellar freshman years, including Clemson’s Greg Huegel, who led the nation in field goals (27) and points (138). Huegel is joined by Hatfield, Oklahoma’s Austin Seibert and Yoon.
They are joined by 16 other kickers who have previously been named semifinalists, including Utah senior Andy Phillips, who has earned the honor in each of his first three years. To put that consistency in perspective, Elliott, Cincinnati junior Andrew Gantz and Arizona State senior Zane Gonzalez are the only other active kickers who have been semifinalists even twice.
Matt Anderson California
Michael Badgley Miami (Fla.)
Jonathan Barnes Louisiana Tech
Drew Brown Nebraska
Daniel Carlson Auburn
Trent Domingue LSU
Jake Elliott Memphis
Elliott Fry South Carolina
Andrew Gantz Cincinnati
Zane Gonzalez Arizona State
Adam Griffith Alabama
Ben Grogan Oklahoma State
Clayton Hatfield Texas Tech
Greg Huegel Clemson
Josh Lambert West Virginia
Cole Murphy Syracuse
Griffin Oakes Indiana
Andy Phillips Utah
Bobby Puyol Connecticut
Tyler Rausa Boise State
Austin Rehkow Idaho
Ryan Santoso Minnesota
Aidan Schneider Oregon
Austin Siebert Oklahoma
Joey Slye Virginia Tech
Nick Smith Marshall
Cameron Van Winkle Washington
Nick Weiler North Carolina
Justin Yoon Notre Dame
Brent Zuzo Nevada
While nearly all of the Watch List members are upperclassmen, four sophomores earned their way on after stellar freshman years, including Clemson’s Greg Huegel, who led the nation in field goals (27) and points (138). Huegel is joined by Hatfield, Oklahoma’s Austin Seibert and Yoon.
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