July 9, 2014 Contact: Kris Pursell, Director of Events & Operations (561) 233-3124, [email protected]

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2014 Preseason Watch List

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Looking to become just the second repeat winner in Groza history, Florida State sophomore headlines the thirty-player Watch List for the 2014 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Aguayo won the 2013 Groza with an incredible freshman season in which he made 99.1% of all his kicks, shattering the all-time FBS record for a season with at least 15 field goals and 30 extra points. If he defends his title, he would join fellow Seminole kicker (1998 & 1999) as the only players to win multiple Grozas. In addition to last year’s winner, 13 other semifinalists from last season return, including South Florida senior Marvin Kloss who was a finalist for the 2013 award.

Including Aguayo, 13 kickers return to FBS coming off seasons in which they connected on double-digit field goals at a rate better than 85%, and all 13 were named to the watch list: Aguayo (95.5%), Toledo senior Jeremiah Detmer (95%), Michigan State sophomore Michael Geiger (93.8%), Ohio junior Josiah Yazdani (93.3%), LSU sophomore Colby Delahoussaye (92.9%), Georgia junior Marshall Morgan (91.7%), Central Florida senior Shawn Moffitt (91.3%), Boise State senior Dan Goodale (89.5%), Oklahoma senior Michael Hunnicutt (88.9%), Memphis sophomore Jake Elliott (88.9%), Colorado State senior Jared Roberts (87.5%), Texas Tech senior Ryan Bustin (85.2%), and Utah sophomore Andy Phillips (85%).

Moving from accuracy to volume, all 11 returning kickers who converted at least 20 field goals are also part of the Watch List: Arizona State sophomore (25), Hunnicutt (24), Bustin (23), San Jose State junior Austin Lopez (22), Morgan (22), Aguayo (21), Maryland junior (21), Moffitt (21), Roberts (21), Notre Dame senior Kyle Brindza (20), and Louisville junior John Wallace (20).

Kickers on the Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2013 season and 2014 expectations. All ten FBS conferences are represented among the 30 kickers, led by four each from the American, Big 12, Mountain West, and Pac-12. The ACC, MAC and SEC each placed three kickers, followed by a pair from the Big Ten. Conference USA and the Sun Belt each placed one kicker, along with independent Notre Dame.

While the Watch List highlights thirty of the best returning kickers in the country, Aguayo, who was not on the 2013 Watch List, stands as proof that the Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers during the season, and releasing a weekly “Stars of the Week” feature on www.lougrozaaward.com.

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, November 6th. From this list, a panel of more than 300 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, and former Groza finalists selects the top three finalists for the award by Monday, November 24th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 11th during the Home Depot Awards, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.

The 23rd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, recognizes the three finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 9th, prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.

The Award is named for Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the . 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.

National College Football Awards Association 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 21 awards boast 678 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit www.NCFAA.org to learn more about our story.

The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a 12-day period this month. Fifteen of the association’s 21 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates.

Following is the complete 2014 preseason watch list calendar:

Mon., July 7: Bednarik Award / Maxwell Award Tue., July 8: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy Wed., July 9: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award Thurs., July 10: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy Fri., July 11: Jim Thorpe Award Mon., July 14: Butkus Award / Rotary Lombardi Award Tue., July 15: Biletnikoff Award Wed., July 16: Davey O’Brien Award Thurs., July 17: Doak Walker Award Fri., July 18: Walter Camp Award

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission 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, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches and the annual Sam Budnyk Student-Athlete Scholarship. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

Roberto Aguayo – Florida State Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Mascotte, Florida

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 21 22 95.5 0-0 10-10 2-2 8-9 1-1 53 94 94 157

The winner of the 2012 Lou Groza Award, Aguayo converted 99.1% of his total kicks, the highest mark ever by an FBS kicker with at least 15 field goals and 30 extra points. His 157 points set the FBS single-season kick-scoring record, helped in part by his 94-for-94 PAT campaign, the most in FBS history without a miss. Only the second freshman to ever win the Groza, he made the first 70 kicks of his career, setting the all-time Florida State mark. Kyle Brindza – Notre Dame Class: Senior - Hometown: Canton, Michigan

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 20 26 76.9 0-0 11-11 2-4 4-7 3-4 53 38 38 98

Brindza topped his own single-season kick-scoring record in 2013 with 98 points on the year. He did it the hard way as well, setting the Notre Dame mark with three made kicks from at least 50 yards. He closed out the season going 5-for- 5 in the Pinstripe Bowl, matching the NCAA record for most field goals in a bowl game. Ryan Bustin – Texas Tech Class: Senior - Hometown: Kilgore, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 23 27 85.2 0-0 13-13 9-11 1-3 0-0 43 52 55 121

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Bustin rewrote the Texas Tech record books, setting new high marks for field goals (23), attempts (27), accuracy (85.2%), and kick-scoring (121 points) in a single season. He had a pair of 4-FG games, including an 18-point effort against Kansas that set the Red Raider mark for kick-scoring in a single game. Jack Cantele – Kansas State Class: Junior - Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 11 13 84.6 0-0 4-4 3-3 4-5 0-1 44 40 41 73

In his first season after taking over kicking duties from his brother Anthony, himself a Groza semifinalist in 2012, Cantele proved up to the task in going 11-for-13 on field goals before missing the final three games. In what would end up being his final game, he went 4-for-4 with a game-winning 41-yard with three seconds left on the clock. Will Conant – Air Force Class: Senior - Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 11 13 84.6 0-0 1-1 4-4 3-4 3-4 52 32 33 65

Taking over place-kicking duties in 2013, Conant provided a stabilizing presence for Air Force, converting 11 of his 13 attempts. He came out of the gates strong, converting a 52-yard kick for his first ever collegiate field goal. That would be the first of three 52 yarders Conant would hit on the season, making him just the second Air Force kicker ever to make three kicks from 50 or longer in a season. Brad Craddock – Maryland Class: Junior - Hometown: Adelaide, Australia

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 21 25 84 0-0 8-8 8-9 4-5 1-3 50 37 38 100

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Craddock had seven games kicking multiple field goals, including a trio of 3-FG performances. His 21 field goals are the third-most in a season at Maryland, and he became just the second Terrapin kicker to ever break the 100-point barrier, joining longtime NFL kicker who did it twice. Colby Delahoussaye – LSU Class: Sophomore - Hometown: New Iberia, Louisiana

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 13 14 92.9 0-0 6-6 4-5 3-3 0-0 49 56 57 95

Few programs have had as strong a kicking lineage over the past decade as LSU, and in his freshman season Delahoussaye proved the job is still in good hands, setting the Tigers record for most field goals to open a career by converting his first nine attempts. His 3-FG performance in the season opener was his first of three multi-FG games. Jeremiah Detmer – Toledo Class: Senior - Hometown: Hilliard, Ohio

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 19 20 95 0-0 7-7 6-7 6-6 0-0 47 44 45 101

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Detmer has quite simply been one of the most prolific and accurate kickers in FBS over the past two seasons. His 43 field goals tie him for the most over that span, while his lone miss last year snapped a streak of 23 straight. He enters the season having made 36 of his last 37 field goal attempts. Jake Elliott – Memphis Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Western Springs, Illinois

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 16 18 88.9 2-2 4-4 3-4 4-5 3-3 56 24 24 72

One of just four freshman to be named semifinalists for the Groza in 2013, Elliott was the only kicker in FBS to make at least three field goals from 50 yards without a miss from long distance. His 56 yarder set the Memphis record and matched the longest in FBS last season. He made the first 11 field goal attempts of his career, including a 5-for-5 performance against Houston. Kyle Fischer – Louisiana Tech Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Frisco, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 18 23 78.3 0-0 5-6 9-11 4-6 0-0 49 22 23 76

While his highlight reel field goal against Tulane that hit both the left and right uprights before going through received most of the attention, Fischer finished his freshman season with a number of notable marks. His 49-yard field goal was the longest by a Bulldog since 2008, while he became the first to ever record a 5-for-5 field goal game. Elliott Fry – South Carolina Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Frisco, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 15 18 83.3 0-0 5-5 4-5 6-8 0-0 45 54 55 99

The first true freshman to kick in a South Carolina season opener since 1996, Fry ended up leading the team in scoring and setting a Gamecocks season record with 54 extra points. His four field goals were huge in a 19-14 win over Florida, as was his 40 yarder in the second against Missouri that proved to be the game-winner. Michael Geiger – Michigan State Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 15 16 93.8 0-0 3-3 4-5 8-8 0-0 49 36 38 81

Four games into the season, Geiger was called upon to take his first collegiate field goal – in front of more than 80,000 opposing fans at Notre Dame Stadium. The true freshman made the kick, and nearly all the rest of his attempts, ultimately setting the Michigan State record for FG accuracy at 93.8%, the third-highest by any returning FBS kicker. Zane Gonzalez – Arizona State Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Deer Park, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 25 30 83.3 2-2 12-13 7-9 4-6 0-0 44 63 65 138

One of just four freshman to be named semifinalists for the Groza in 2013, Gonzalez led the nation with 25 made field goals, tying the all-time mark for a freshman kicker. Among his 25 makes were a string of 18 straight. His 138 points shattered the Arizona State kick-scoring mark, set most recently by Thomas Weber in his Groza-winning 2007 season. Dan Goodale – Boise State Class: Senior - Hometown: Boise, Idaho

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 17 19 89.5 0-0 4-4 11-12 2-3 0-0 47 57 60 108

With an 89.5% field goal accuracy mark, Goodale led all kickers in the Mountain West Conference and ranks in the top ten of all returning FBS kickers. His 108 points are the ninth-most in Boise State history. Within his 17-for-19 season, he connected on a string of 12 straight, including five multiple-field goal games. Michael Hunnicutt – Oklahoma Class: Senior - Hometown: Richardson, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 24 27 88.9 1-1 6-6 14-15 3-4 0-1 47 47 48 119

A semifinalist for the Groza in both 2012 and 2013, Hunnicutt finished second in the nation with 24 made field goals, setting the Oklahoma single-season record and becoming the Sooners’ all-time leading field goal kicker in the process. He enters 2014 just 40 points shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma history, regardless of position. Maxwell Johnson – New Mexico State Class: Senior - Hometown: Astoria, Oregon

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 10 12 83.3 1-1 2-2 5-5 2-4 0-0 49 29 32 59

Despite a difficult season for the Aggies offense that kept him from attempting a field goal until the fourth game of the season, Johnson still ended up as the team’s leading scorer. His 10 field goals came in the span of the final eight games, including a pair in the 4th quarter of a 34-29 victory over Abilene Christian. Jordan Williamson – Stanford Class: Senior - Hometown: Austin, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 18 22 81.8 1-1 7-7 7-8 3-4 0-2 48 43 44 97

A semifinalist for the Groza back in 2011, Williamson set career-highs with 18 field goals and 97 points in 2013. Over his career, he has become Stanford’s all-time leading extra point kicker, including a PAT against Army that goes down as the 25,000th point scored in program history. He kicked four FGs in Stanford’s 26-20 win over then-#2 Oregon. Marvin Kloss – South Florida Class: Senior - Hometown: Naples, Florida

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 18 23 78.3 0-0 6-6 1-1 7-9 4-7 52 15 15 69

A finalist for the Groza in 2013, Kloss had the biggest leg in college football last season, leading FBS with four field goals from at least 50 yards, and 11 from at least 40 yards out. He only missed one field goal within 48 yards all season. In the Bulls’ two wins, he scored every offensive point. His 69 points accounted for 41% of USF’s total scoring. Austin Lopez – San Jose State Class: Junior - Hometown: Euless, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 22 27 81.5 1-1 5-7 6-7 8-10 2-2 51 39 40 105

A semifinalist for the Groza in 2012, Lopez followed up a perfect freshman season with a more prolific sophomore effort, finishing tied for 5th in the nation for most field goals made. He made field goals in all but one game for San Jose State, including a trio of 3-FG performances. With his second straight 105-point season, he is the first player in school history to top 100 points twice in a career. Shawn Moffitt – Central Florida Class: Senior - Hometown: Orlando, Florida

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 21 23 91.3 0-0 7-8 10-10 3-3 1-2 50 49 49 112

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Moffitt was one of just six FBS kickers to make at least 20 field goals while connecting at a rate better than 90%. His 21 field goals are a UCF single-season record, as is his 91.3% accuracy mark. He converted field goals in every UCF game during a season in which the Knights won four times by just three points. Marshall Morgan – Georgia Class: Junior - Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 22 24 91.7 0-0 8-8 7-8 5-5 2-3 56 47 47 113

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Morgan finished with 22 field goals despite missing the first two games of the season. His 91.7% accuracy was the best in SEC history by a kicker with at least 20 attempts. His 56 yarder against Tennessee ended up tied for the longest kick in the nation last season, and he was the only kicker in FBS with a pair of field goals from 55 yards or further. Jaden Oberkrom – TCU Class: Junior - Hometown: Arlington, Texas

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 14 18 77.8 0-0 5-5 5-5 3-4 1-4 56 37 37 79

A semifinalist for the Groza in 2012, Oberkrom was 13-of-14 within 50 yards last season, while his 56 yarder is the second-longest in TCU history. Having not missed an extra point attempt in his two seasons, he enters 2014 on a streak of 79 straight and needing just one more to set the all-time Horned Frogs record. Will Oliver – Colorado Class: Senior - Hometown: Los Angeles, California

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 17 24 70.8 2-2 5-5 4-5 4-7 2-5 53 30 30 81

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Oliver became the first kicker in Colorado history to put together two straight seasons without missing an extra point. He needs just seven more to set the school record for most consecutive PATs. He was one of just 20 kickers in FBS with multiple field goals from at least 50 yards out. Andy Phillips – Utah Class: Sophomore - Hometown: Draper, Utah

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 17 20 85 1-1 2-2 5-6 8-10 1-1 51 41 41 92

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Phillips had never played football at any level before stepping on the field last season. The former US Ski team member proved a natural place-kicker, connecting on the first 39 kicks of his career. His eight field goals from 40-49 yards tied for the most in the nation from that distance. Jared Roberts – Colorado State Class: Senior - Hometown: Littleton, Colorado

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 21 24 87.5 1-1 6-7 6-7 6-7 2-2 54 58 58 121

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Roberts qualified for the Colorado State record books and quickly put his name atop most of them, setting season marks for extra points and kick-scoring while also becoming the career leader in field goal accuracy. He closed out the season with a 4-for-4 performance in the New Mexico Bowl that included a game-winning 41 yarder as time expired. Niklas Sade – North Carolina State Class: Senior - Hometown: Wake Forest, North Carolina

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 19 23 82.6 1-1 9-9 4-5 5-7 0-1 48 31 31 88

A 2013 Groza semifinalist, Sade hit all 19 of his field goals in just the first nine games of the season. That stretch included a pair of four field goal games, in the season opener against Louisiana Tech and against in-state rival UNC. A starter every game since he came to NC State, he owns the school’s career extra point record with 121. Carl Salazar – Tulsa Class: Senior - Hometown: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 16 19 84.2 1-1 7-8 8-10 0-0 0-0 38 25 26 73

After missing the first two attempts of his collegiate career, Salazar bounced back to go 3-for-3 in his second game, including a game-winning 34 yarder as time expired in Tulsa’s win over Colorado State. He would only miss one other attempt the rest of the way, including a 4-for-4 game against Rice in which he kicked a last-minute FG to force overtime. Tyler Tate – Bowling Green Class: Junior - Hometown: Carroll, Ohio

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 18 22 81.8 0-0 7-8 5-6 5-7 1-1 52 59 61 113

A relative unknown after only attempting 16 total kicks his freshman season, Tate ranked among the top kickers in the nation in his sophomore year. His 18 field goals and 59 extra points are each the second-highest totals in Bowling Green history, while his 113 points bested Steelers kicker ’s previous school kick-scoring record. John Wallace – Louisville Class: Junior - Hometown: Cecilia, Kentucky

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 20 24 83.3 2-2 7-9 9-9 2-3 0-1 43 52 54 112

Wallace came within one kick of matching 2006 Groza winner ’s Louisville record of 21 field goals in a single season. He put together a trio of three field goal games, including both the season opener and the Cardinals’ Russell Athletic Bowl win over Miami. The three field goals are the most ever by a Louisville kicker in a bowl game. Josiah Yazdani – Ohio Class: Junior - Hometown: Albany, Ohio

FGM FGA FG% 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ LONG XPM XPA PTS 14 15 93.3 0-0 8-8 3-3 3-4 0-0 49 30 30 72

Yazdani didn’t take over as the Bobcats’ place-kicker until four games into the year, but he finished the regular season a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals and 28-for-28 on extra points. His 93.3% field goal accuracy over the whole season stands as the best mark in Ohio history.