Top 3 Collegiate Place-Kickers

Andre Szmyt
  • Winner: 2018
  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2022, 2018
  • Stars of the Week: 2022 Season, Week 4
Place Kicker
Hometown

Vernon Hills, IL

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Syracuse Orange

The nation’s leading field goal kicker in 2018 was Andre Szmyt. Connecting on 28 of his 32 attempts, the freshman set a new Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record and finished the year with three more makes than any other kicker in the country. But his season was about so much more than just that one number. The 28 field goals included a perfect 3-for-3 mark on kicks from at least 50 yards. Against Pittsburgh, he connected on a season-long 54 yarder to give the Orange the lead late in the fourth quarter. It was his third field goal of the game, part of a stretch of four straight games in which he made three kicks. In fact, he made multiple field goals in each of the first ten games of the season, culminating in a 4-for-4 performance against Louisville. It’s no surprise then that he also scored double-digit points in each of those first ten games, helping him to a season total of 141 that lead the nation not only in kick-scoring but in scoring by any player regardless of position. While his totals grab the headlines – and don’t forget his perfect 57-for-57 extra point attempts – it hasn’t come at the expense of accuracy. His 87.5 field goal percentage was 2nd in the nation by kickers with more than 20 attempts.

There are no stats available for this player.

  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2018
Place Kicker
Hometown

Camarillo, CA

Height & Weight
Class

Freshman

LSU Tigers Logo

LSU Tigers

Tracy, a senior from Camarillo, California, ranks third in FBS with 22 made field goals, part of a 22-for-25 campaign that ranks 7th in accuracy among kickers with more than a dozen attempts. Two of his three misses came on 53-yard attempts, both shorter than the 54 yarder he made as part of a 4-for-4 FBS debut, after setting the Division II record for points-per-game by a kicker last season. He made the first final-play, game-winning kick in LSU history, knocking home a 42 yarder on the road against Auburn for a 22-21 victory.

Cooper Rothe
  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2018
Place Kicker
Hometown

Longmont, CO

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Wyoming Cowboys Logo

Wyoming Cowboys

Rothe, a junior from Longmont, Colorado, ranks second in the nation in field goal accuracy among qualified FBS kickers, going 15-for-16 thus far. Included in that total is a 51 yarder, making him one of only two kickers in the nation to make a long-distance field goal while still connecting at better than 90% on total attempts. Among FBS kickers who qualified for accuracy leaderboards in each of the last two seasons, his combined 88.2% field goal conversion rate is second in the nation.

Past Finalists

Graham Nicholson
  • Winner: 2023
  • Finalist: 2023
  • Semi-finalist: 2023
  • Stars of the Week: 2023 Season, Week 12
Place Kicker
Hometown

Cincinnati, OH

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Alabama Crimson Tide Logo

Alabama Crimson Tide

Nicholson finished the season 26-for-27 on field goals, with his only miss coming late in Miami’s MAC Championship Game victory over Toledo. With a 23-for-23 regular season, Nicholson set a new FBS record for the most field goals in a perfect regular season, topping 2012 Lou Groza Award winner Cairo Santos’ mark of 21. Add two more to start the MAC Championship Game and he made 25 consecutive field goals, matching the all-time FBS record for the longest streak in one season. Overall, his 26 field goals tied for the second-most in FBS while his 96.3% accuracy was the highest by any kicker with even 15 attempts on the year. He also set the bar for consistency by making field goals in every game of the season. Of the eight FBS kickers who made at least 23 field goals, he’s the only one who can make that claim. He kicked multiple field goals in nine games, including a trio of 3-for-3 performances. In two of those, he outscored the RedHawks’ opponent on his own, totaling 11 points in both a 23-3 win over Kent State and a 23-10 victory over Buffalo.

Jose Pizano
  • Finalist: 2023
  • Semi-finalist: 2023
  • Stars of the Week: 2023 Season, Week 8, 2023 Season, Week 3
Place Kicker
Hometown

Lehi, UT

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

UNLV Rebels Logo

UNLV Rebels

Pizano, a senior from Lehi, Utah, brought award-winning credentials with him from FCS Missouri State and instantly became one of the top kickers at the FBS level, setting virtually every single-season record at UNLV. His 23 field goals are the most ever by a Rebel and included a run of 19 straight to set a new program mark as well. He kicked two game-winners, one as part of a 4-FG game against Vanderbilt and the other his record-setting 6th field goal of the game against Colorado State.

Will Reichard
  • Finalist: 2023, 2020
  • Semi-finalist: 2023, 2022, ...
  • Stars of the Week: 2023 Season, Week 5, 2022 Season, Week 11, ...
  • Watchlist: 2023
Place Kicker
Hometown

Hoover, AL

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Alabama Crimson Tide Logo

Alabama Crimson Tide

Reichard, a graduate student from Hoover, Alabama, caps one of the great collegiate careers of all time by becoming just the 12th kicker in history to be voted a Groza finalist more than once. He has amassed 530 points in his career, tied for the most by any player in FBS history. This season, his 3-for-3 mark on kicks from at least 50 yards gives him the most by any kicker who didn’t miss from long distance, perhaps not surprising given his 8 career makes from 50+ are the most in Alabama history.

Christopher Dunn
  • Winner: 2022
  • Finalist: 2022
  • Semi-finalist: 2022, 2019
  • Stars of the Week: 2022 Season, Week 6, 2022 Season, Week 10
Place Kicker
Hometown

Lexington, NC

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

NC State Wolfpack Logo

NC State Wolfpack

Christopher Dunn capped a record-setting career with his finest single season, going 24-for-25 on field goals. Both the total field goals and the 96% hit rate rank second in FBS this season, while his accuracy mark is the best by any kicker with at least 20 attempts. Dunn was perfect over his first 22 attempts, going all the way into the regular season’s final game without a miss, drawing comparisons to 1996 Groza Award winner Marc Primanti’s perfect season. He made multiple field goals in eight games this year, most notably in the Wolfpack’s 19-17 win over Florida State. In that game, he went 4-for-4 on field goals, scoring the last 9 points of the game to turn a four-point deficit into a two-point win. That game also featured his longest field goal of the season, a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Long field goals were one of his hallmarks this year, tied for second in the country with 17 field goals from at least 30 yards out and one of just four FBS kickers with at least 10 kicks from 40 yards or more. The fifth-year starter entered the year already NC State’s program leader in field goals and points, but this year’s performance put him over the top in the ACC record books and among the top performers in FBS history. His 93 career field goals are second all-time only to 2016 Groza winner Zane Gonzalez, while his 479 career points are the fourth-most by any FBS kicker ever.

Joshua Karty
  • Finalist: 2022
  • Semi-finalist: 2023, 2022
  • Stars of the Week: 2023 Season, Week 12, 2023 Season, Week 1, ...
  • Watchlist: 2023
Place Kicker
Hometown

Burlington, NC

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Stanford Cardinal Logo

Stanford Cardinal

Karty, a junior from Burlington, North Carolina, became just the fourth kicker in FBS history to stay perfect on field goals through a full season, going 18-for-18 for the first season without a miss since 2013. He didn’t play it safe to get there, leading the country with 13 field goals from at least 40 yards out. Three of those came from over 50, including a 61-yard blast that set a new Cardinal record. It was the longest kick in FBS by five yards and the third-longest FG in the last 10 seasons. He went 5-for-5 on field goals against Arizona State, scoring every point in a 15-14 come-from-behind win.

Gabe Brkic
  • Finalist: 2021
  • Semi-finalist: 2021, 2020, ...
Place Kicker
Hometown

Chardon, OH

Height & Weight
Class

Junior

Oklahoma Sooners Logo

Oklahoma Sooners

Brkic, a junior from Chardon, Ohio, leads the nation in long‐distance field goals, connecting five times from at least 50 yards out. He got off to a quick start, with three of them in the season opener, tying the all‐time FBS record for 50+ FGs in a single game. He connected from 56 yards in each of the first two games of the year, marking the longest Sooner field goals in over 40 years. In addition to his 17‐for‐23 FG campaign, he is perfect on 48 PATs, extending his career‐long streak to 150‐for‐150.

Jake Moody
  • Winner: 2021
  • Finalist: 2022, 2021
  • Semi-finalist: 2022, 2021
  • Stars of the Week: 2022 Season, Week 9, 2022 Season, Week 7, ...
Place Kicker
Hometown

Northville, MI

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Michigan Wolverines Logo

Michigan Wolverines

Jake Moody, a senior from Northville, Michigan, was the only FBS kicker to make more than 20 field goals at a rate of 90% or better without missing an extra point during the 2021 season. At 22-for-24 on the season, his 91.7% accuracy was second-best among kickers with 20 field goals, and stands as by far the most accurate in Michigan history on at least 20 attempts. He kicked multiple field goals in Michigan’s first six conference games, making more kicks in that short stretch than all but 22 kickers made all season. He made multiple field goals seven times this season, including a pair of 4-for-4 performances. He finished the regular season with 122 points, tied for third in the nation. His 122-point season ranked second in program history and is the best ever by a Michigan kicker.

Noah Ruggles
  • Finalist: 2021
  • Semi-finalist: 2021
Place Kicker
Hometown

Odessa, FL

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Ohio State Buckeyes Logo

Ohio State Buckeyes

Ruggles, a senior from Odessa, Florida, is the nation’s top scoring kicker with 113 points. His bid for a perfect season came to an end this weekend, snapping what had been the nation’s longest consecutive field goal streak at 18 straight, going back to his previous season. Despite this late miss, his totals of 16‐for‐17 on field goals and 65‐for‐65 on PATs give him a combined accuracy rate of 98.78% on all kicks this season, the best by an FBS kicker with double‐digit field goal tries.

Jake Oldroyd
  • Finalist: 2020
  • Semi-finalist: 2020
Place Kicker
Hometown

Southlake, TX

Height & Weight
Class

Junior

BYU Cougars Logo

BYU Cougars

Oldroyd, a sophomore from Southlake, Texas, finished the year a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals, the most by an FBS kicker without a miss this season. More than half of those kicks came from at least 40 yards out, including three from over 50. That gives him more 50-yard FGs in a perfect season than any FBS kicker since at least 2004. He made the first 73 extra point attempts of his career, setting the all-time BYU record for consecutive PATs, before a blocked attempt broke his streak.

Jose Borregales
  • Winner: 2020
  • Finalist: 2020
  • Semi-finalist: 2020, 2018
Place Kicker
Hometown

Miami, FL

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Miami Hurricanes Logo

Miami Hurricanes

Jose Borregales, a senior from Miami, Florida, transferred to the Hurricanes ahead of the 2020 season and gave them one of the best years in program history. At 18-for-20 on field goals, his 90.0% accuracy rate was tied for the best in the nation among kickers with at least 20 attempts. His 8 field goals from at least 40 yards out were tied for 4th in the country and includes a 57-yard bomb that came as part of a 4-for-4 FG, 17-point performance on the road against Louisville. Combined with his totals at FIU, Borregales was third in the nation among active kickers with 68 career field goals.

Blake Mazza
  • Finalist: 2019
  • Semi-finalist: 2019
Place Kicker
Hometown

Plano, TX

Height & Weight
Class

Junior

Washington State Cougars Logo

Washington State Cougars

Mazza, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, had made all 18 of his field goal attempts until a miss this past week snapped the longest consecutive field goal streak in Washington State history. Still, at 18-for-19, his 94.7% accuracy rate is easily the best by any FBS kicker with multiple field goals from over 50 yards. It also will almost certainly finish as the most accurate season in school history. He has made multiple field goals in seven games this year and converted at least 5 PATs in five games, helping to a season scoring total of 105, tied for 2nd in the country

Keith Duncan
  • Finalist: 2019
  • Semi-finalist: 2019
Place Kicker
Hometown

Weddington, NC

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Iowa Hawkeyes Logo

Iowa Hawkeyes

Duncan, a junior from Weddington, North Carolina, leads the nation with 27 made field goals, four more than the next closest kicker and a new Big Ten single-season record. A full dozen of those kicks have come from at least 40 yards out, the most in the nation. Not only has he made a field goal in each game this season, he’s made 4 field goals in a game on three different occasions, each vital to close Iowa wins. With one more of those 4-FG performances, he would tie the all-time FBS record for field goals in a single season.

2023 Top 20 Collegiate Place-Kickers

Winners

The Elite Club of Collegiate Place-Kickers

Selection Process

How is the winner selected?

Andre Szmyt
  • Winner: 2018
  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2022, 2018
  • Stars of the Week: 2022 Season, Week 4
Place Kicker
Hometown

Vernon Hills, IL

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Syracuse Orange

The nation’s leading field goal kicker in 2018 was Andre Szmyt. Connecting on 28 of his 32 attempts, the freshman set a new Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record and finished the year with three more makes than any other kicker in the country. But his season was about so much more than just that one number. The 28 field goals included a perfect 3-for-3 mark on kicks from at least 50 yards. Against Pittsburgh, he connected on a season-long 54 yarder to give the Orange the lead late in the fourth quarter. It was his third field goal of the game, part of a stretch of four straight games in which he made three kicks. In fact, he made multiple field goals in each of the first ten games of the season, culminating in a 4-for-4 performance against Louisville. It’s no surprise then that he also scored double-digit points in each of those first ten games, helping him to a season total of 141 that lead the nation not only in kick-scoring but in scoring by any player regardless of position. While his totals grab the headlines – and don’t forget his perfect 57-for-57 extra point attempts – it hasn’t come at the expense of accuracy. His 87.5 field goal percentage was 2nd in the nation by kickers with more than 20 attempts.

There are no stats available for this player.

  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2018
Place Kicker
Hometown

Camarillo, CA

Height & Weight
Class

Freshman

LSU Tigers Logo

LSU Tigers

Tracy, a senior from Camarillo, California, ranks third in FBS with 22 made field goals, part of a 22-for-25 campaign that ranks 7th in accuracy among kickers with more than a dozen attempts. Two of his three misses came on 53-yard attempts, both shorter than the 54 yarder he made as part of a 4-for-4 FBS debut, after setting the Division II record for points-per-game by a kicker last season. He made the first final-play, game-winning kick in LSU history, knocking home a 42 yarder on the road against Auburn for a 22-21 victory.

Cooper Rothe
  • Finalist: 2018
  • Semi-finalist: 2018
Place Kicker
Hometown

Longmont, CO

Height & Weight
Class

Senior

Wyoming Cowboys Logo

Wyoming Cowboys

Rothe, a junior from Longmont, Colorado, ranks second in the nation in field goal accuracy among qualified FBS kickers, going 15-for-16 thus far. Included in that total is a 51 yarder, making him one of only two kickers in the nation to make a long-distance field goal while still connecting at better than 90% on total attempts. Among FBS kickers who qualified for accuracy leaderboards in each of the last two seasons, his combined 88.2% field goal conversion rate is second in the nation.

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