The national panel of college football experts assembled by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission has selected the three finalists for the 32nd Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. Graham Nicholson of Miami University, Jose Pizano of UNLV, and Will Reichard of Alabama will vie for the honor.
Nicholson, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, finished the regular season a perfect 23-for-23 on field goals, the most ever in a full FBS season without a miss. With the MAC Championship and a bowl game still to play, he stands three makes away from setting the all-time FBS record for consecutive field goals in a single season. He kicked field goals in every game this year, including three 3-for-3 performances, all in conference play.
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.
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.
This year’s finalists were selected by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers. These finalists will be honored at the 32nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4th in Palm Beach County. The same voting panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 8th. For more information on the Lou Groza Award and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, visit www.palmbeachsports.com.
Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 30 finalists, including 17 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 7 Super Bowls. That list includes 2023 NFL kickers Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson Jake Elliott, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Dustin Hopkins, Younghoe Koo, Jake Moody and Cairo Santos.