Selection Process

The Process Behind The Lou Groza Award

The national panel of voters is composed of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers. Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 28 finalists, including 16 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 7 Super Bowls.

1
Preseason Watchlist
Prior to the start of each college football season, the Lou Groza Award Watch List consisting of 30 players is released. This Watch List is determined based on statistics from the previous season and preseason expectations. Information is received from national media, school sports information directors and other ranking sources. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for the coveted award.
2
Stars of the Week
During the season the Groza Awards committee monitors the success of all kickers on a national level. Weekly, beginning in early September the award recognizes the three outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week’s play.
3
Finalists Selected
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award committee announces its 20 semi-finalists in early-November. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three finalists for the award in late November. That same group then selects the national winner.
4
Winner Announced
The three finalists are invited to Palm Beach County, Florida after the end of the college season for the Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee. This gala three-day program recognizes the accomplishments of the kickers in a variety of community outreach activities culminating with an awards banquet that is the start of the South Florida holiday football season.

The announcement of the winner is made during The Home Depot College Football Awards which is aired annually live on ESPN.

The Committee

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is a program of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The program is directed by the Groza Committee.
William C. Davis

Chairperson

John Smith
Vice Chairperson
Sam Budnyk

Eric Poms

Dan Smith

Patrick McGlon III

Doug Mosley
Hamid Faquire

Jeremy Marks-Peltz

Jim Watt

Stay Up To Date