TEMPE, Ariz. –Arizona State senior place-kicker Zane Gonzalez became just the third player in the history of the storied Sun Devil football program to receive unanimous All-American honors after being named to the American Football Coaches Association’s 2016 All-America First Team Wednesday Morning.
“Zane is one of the best players I have ever coached,” said head coach Todd Graham. “He is the best kicker I have ever coached. He is a tremendous performer and a great teammate.”
Gonzalez, a senior from Deer Park, Texas, joined Terrell Suggs (2002) and Al Harris (1978) as the only three unanimous All-Americans in ASU football history. The ten All American first team honors tied Gonzalez with Suggs for the most first team nods in a single season.
Gonzalez, one of 14 unanimous All-Americans in 2016, joins Utah’s Mitch Wishnowski and Washington State’s Cody O’Connell as the Pac-12’s three unanimous All-Americans this season.
Gonzalez finished his four-year career in maroon and gold as the all-time FBS leader in field goals made (96) and points by a kicker (494). His 23 made field goals out of 25 attempts in the 2016 season led the Pac-12 in both makes and percentage.
Gonzalez made an FBS-leading 14 field goals from at least 40 yards and was a remarkable 7-for-9 on attempts from 50 yards or more. That mark, the second-most ever from long distance in an FBS season, includes the longest FG of the year, a 59 yarder that was also the kick to give him the all-time record for career points by a kicker.
Gonzalez joined Thomas Weber as the second ASU kicker to win the Lou Groza Award, making ASU one of only four schools with multiple winners. Weber set a Sun Devil record in 2007 by successfully kicking the first 17 of his field goals and kicked 22 of his 23 tries during the season. As a conference, the Pac-12 has accounted for five of the 25 previous winners of the award.
“He was the best in what is a long line of great kickers here,” added Graham. “He was a four-year starter here and a captain on this team. He was a guy who had more votes than anyone on this team to be a captain. His leadership is very rare. To have a place-kicker that is a team leader and someone who is a great performer and great kicker. I think he will go down as one of the best, if not the best, kicker in college football history.”
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. Beginning this year, the AFCA has started selecting a first and second team. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the coaches.
Zane Gonzalez First Team All-America Selections:
Sporting News*
Pro Football Focus
USA Today
Sports Illustrated
Walter Camp*
Associated Press*
Phil Steele Magazine
Football Writers Association of America*
Fox Sports
American Football Coaches Association*
*Denotes All-America teams taken into account for unanimous and consensus All-America recognition.
“Zane is one of the best players I have ever coached,” said head coach Todd Graham. “He is the best kicker I have ever coached. He is a tremendous performer and a great teammate.”
Gonzalez, a senior from Deer Park, Texas, joined Terrell Suggs (2002) and Al Harris (1978) as the only three unanimous All-Americans in ASU football history. The ten All American first team honors tied Gonzalez with Suggs for the most first team nods in a single season.
Gonzalez, one of 14 unanimous All-Americans in 2016, joins Utah’s Mitch Wishnowski and Washington State’s Cody O’Connell as the Pac-12’s three unanimous All-Americans this season.
Gonzalez finished his four-year career in maroon and gold as the all-time FBS leader in field goals made (96) and points by a kicker (494). His 23 made field goals out of 25 attempts in the 2016 season led the Pac-12 in both makes and percentage.
Gonzalez made an FBS-leading 14 field goals from at least 40 yards and was a remarkable 7-for-9 on attempts from 50 yards or more. That mark, the second-most ever from long distance in an FBS season, includes the longest FG of the year, a 59 yarder that was also the kick to give him the all-time record for career points by a kicker.
Gonzalez joined Thomas Weber as the second ASU kicker to win the Lou Groza Award, making ASU one of only four schools with multiple winners. Weber set a Sun Devil record in 2007 by successfully kicking the first 17 of his field goals and kicked 22 of his 23 tries during the season. As a conference, the Pac-12 has accounted for five of the 25 previous winners of the award.
“He was the best in what is a long line of great kickers here,” added Graham. “He was a four-year starter here and a captain on this team. He was a guy who had more votes than anyone on this team to be a captain. His leadership is very rare. To have a place-kicker that is a team leader and someone who is a great performer and great kicker. I think he will go down as one of the best, if not the best, kicker in college football history.”
The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions. Beginning this year, the AFCA has started selecting a first and second team. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the coaches.
Zane Gonzalez First Team All-America Selections:
Sporting News*
Pro Football Focus
USA Today
Sports Illustrated
Walter Camp*
Associated Press*
Phil Steele Magazine
Football Writers Association of America*
Fox Sports
American Football Coaches Association*
*Denotes All-America teams taken into account for unanimous and consensus All-America recognition.
