WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Arizona State redshirt junior placekicker Cristian Zendejas was one of 30 student-athletes named to the watch list for the 2020 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Wednesday.
A late replacement prior to the 2019 season opener, Zendejas assumed the team's primary placekicking duties and would go on to finish seventh in the nation in field goals (23) and 20th in field goal percentage (85.2). Zendejas became just the fifth Sun Devil to record 20 or more field goals in a season after finishing the 2019 campaign with 23 makes, good for sixth in ASU single-season annals.
After the second game of his career, Zendejas was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and one of three "Stars of the Week" by the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award after connecting on all four of his field goals and lone PAT in ASU's win over Sacramento State. Zendejas would conclude the season as the Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP after matching the bowl's single-game record with four field goals in ASU's win over Florida State.
Zendejas is one of 10 returning FBS kickers on the watch list who made more than 20 field goals last season while connecting at least 80% of the time.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, November 5th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 24th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 10th during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The 29th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on December 7th.
The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.
Sun Devils on 2020 Award Watch Lists
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Jayden Daniels – story
Biletnikoff Award
Frank Darby – story
Butkus Award
Merlin Robertson – story
Outland Trophy
Dohnovan West - story
Lou Groza Award
Cristian Zendejas - story
A late replacement prior to the 2019 season opener, Zendejas assumed the team's primary placekicking duties and would go on to finish seventh in the nation in field goals (23) and 20th in field goal percentage (85.2). Zendejas became just the fifth Sun Devil to record 20 or more field goals in a season after finishing the 2019 campaign with 23 makes, good for sixth in ASU single-season annals.
After the second game of his career, Zendejas was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and one of three "Stars of the Week" by the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award after connecting on all four of his field goals and lone PAT in ASU's win over Sacramento State. Zendejas would conclude the season as the Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP after matching the bowl's single-game record with four field goals in ASU's win over Florida State.
Zendejas is one of 10 returning FBS kickers on the watch list who made more than 20 field goals last season while connecting at least 80% of the time.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, November 5th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 24th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 10th during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The 29th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on December 7th.
The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.
Sun Devils on 2020 Award Watch Lists
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
Jayden Daniels – story
Biletnikoff Award
Frank Darby – story
Butkus Award
Merlin Robertson – story
Outland Trophy
Dohnovan West - story
Lou Groza Award
Cristian Zendejas - story
