TEMPE, Ariz. – ASU senior Zane Gonzalez has been listed as one of 20 semifinalists for the 2016 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission this morning.
Gonzalez tops the FBS leader board as the only kicker to reach 20 field goals this season. His 95.2 percent accuracy is the highest in the country among kickers with at least 15 attempts this season.
Of Gonzalez’s 20 field goals, an astounding six are from at least 50-yards out, including the longest kick of the year. His 59-yard field goal in Week seven was also the kick that gave him the FBS record for career scoring by a kicker. Gonzalez has also collected an incredible six, 'Lou Groza Star of the Week' honors in his career, the most by any active kicker in the country, including a nation-leading four this season alone.
Semifinalists will be narrowed down by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select three finalists. These finalists will be announced on November 22nd and honored at the 25th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 5th in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 8th.
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 setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. He was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. 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.
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast 722 years of tradition-selection excellence.
Gonzalez tops the FBS leader board as the only kicker to reach 20 field goals this season. His 95.2 percent accuracy is the highest in the country among kickers with at least 15 attempts this season.
Of Gonzalez’s 20 field goals, an astounding six are from at least 50-yards out, including the longest kick of the year. His 59-yard field goal in Week seven was also the kick that gave him the FBS record for career scoring by a kicker. Gonzalez has also collected an incredible six, 'Lou Groza Star of the Week' honors in his career, the most by any active kicker in the country, including a nation-leading four this season alone.
Semifinalists will be narrowed down by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select three finalists. These finalists will be announced on November 22nd and honored at the 25th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 5th in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 8th.
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 setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. He was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. 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.
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 22 awards boast 722 years of tradition-selection excellence.
