Out of all of 2020’s many surprises, Monday finally produced a positive one.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission released the 20 semifinalists to be named the 2020 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl.
These 20 kickers, all now in line to be named the nation’s best of the year, have all excelled throughout the season in earning their places as semifinalists, per a release.
Given the unique nature of this college football season, the committee considered all FBS kickers who had played in at least six games and attempted at least 10 field goals through the games of Week 14.
The list notable features University of Alabama sophomore Will Reichard and Auburn University junior Anders Carlson.
Carlson is one of five qualified FBS kickers to have made at least 15 field goals while connecting at a rate better than 80%.
Meanwhile, Reichard is just one of two qualified kickers still perfect on the season.
Semifinalists will be considered by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers; a vote of this group will result in the selection of three finalists.
These finalists will be announced on December 22 and honored at the 29th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Virtual Awards Celebration, streamed live on January 4 online here. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, January 7.
The award is named for NFL 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.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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