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Aug. 2, 2024 (WEST PALM BEACH) - Looking to become just the second repeat winner in history, former Miami University star and new Alabama starter Graham Nicholson headlines the 30-player Watch List for the 2024 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
As a RedHawk, Nicholson set a new FBS record for the most field goals in a perfect regular season enroute to becoming the first MAC kicker to ever win the Lou Groza Award. If he can repeat the feat with the Crimson Tide, he would join former Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski (1998 & 1999) as the only players to win multiple Groza Awards.
He is joined on the Watch List by 16 other former semifinalists, including four who have earned the honor in multiple seasons: Miami senior Andres Borregales, Boise State senior Jonah Dalmas, Arkansas senior Matthew Shipley, and Iowa junior Drew Stevens.
Among the players on the Watch List are all 10 returning FBS kickers who made more than 20 field goals last season: Texas senior Bert Auburn (29), Nicholson (27), Texas A&M senior Randy Bond (26), Dalmas (24), Fresno State junior Dylan Lynch (24), Minnesota senior Dragan Kesich (23), USC senior Michael Lantz (23), Borregales (22), Virginia Tech sophomore John Love (22), and Georgia sophomore Peyton Woodring (21).
In terms of accuracy, both of last year’s perfect kickers are on the Watch List – Texas State junior Mason Shipley (15-for-15) and Auburn sophomore Alex McPherson (13-for-13) – as well as the four other returning kickers who attempted at least 15 field goals and made them at better than 90% accuracy: Nicholson (96.4), North Carolina senior Noah Burnette (95.0), Love (91.7), and Florida State senior Ryan Fitzgerald (90.5).
While the Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country, Graham Nicholson was not on last year’s list, proof that the Lou Groza Award Committee will in fact be watching all FBS kickers throughout the season, as all FBS kickers remain eligible to be selected as semifinalists. During the season, the Groza Award Committee will select "Stars of the Week" to highlight outstanding performers.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 19. From this list, a panel of 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 26. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 12 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a voter for the Lou Groza Award.
The 33rd 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 on December 9th in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.
Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.