In the 1996 North Carolina State Media Guide, Marc Primanti was quoted as saying, “My job is to make every kick, and I want to do just that.” Primanti did exactly that, making all 20 field goals and 24 extra points that he attempted. This resulted in Primanti being a rather easy choice to receive the Lou Groza Award. Primanti made nine field goals longer than 40 yards, including a 48-yarder against Alabama that was a season-long. He also set an ACC record by making 27 consecutive field goals, stretching back to 1995. After walking onto the Wolfpack team and not playing a down during his first three years in the program, he more than made up for lost time.

Zane Gonzalez finished his four-year career as the all-time FBS leader in both field goals and points by a kicker. In 2016, his 23-for-24 season led the nation in both number and accuracy of field goals. Those kicks came from an average of 40.9 yards away, hitting a national-best 13 from at least 40 yards and a remarkable 7-for-8 from over 50. That mark, the second-most ever from long distance in an FBS season, including the longest field goal of the year, a 59-yarder that was also the kick to give him the all-time record for career points by a kicker. That game against Colorado stands as one of the most impressive ever, as all three of his kicks came from beyond 50 yards, tying the FBS mark for most long-distance kicks in one game. Only three other kickers in 2016 have as many 50-yard field goals all season as he hit in that one game.