Rice Owls
Colleyville, TX
Senior
Danville, CA
Senior
California Golden Bears
Cincinnati, OH
Senior
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.
Lehi, UT
Senior
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.