College football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.”
Nolan Hauser became the first Clemson kicker to make five field goals in a game since 2011 as part of the Tigers’ 29-13 road win over Florida State. The true freshman from Cornelius, N.C. went 5-for-7 with the two misses coming on blocked kicks that serve as his only blemishes thus far this season. Between the five field goals and two PATs, his 17-point game marks his fourth consecutive performance with double-digit scoring. His 53 points rank 6th among FBS kickers this season and best among Clemson players.
Tyler Loop earns his second consecutive Star of the Week distinction, this time whilst setting the program record for field goals in a game during Arizona’s 28-22 loss to Texas Tech. The senior from Lucas, Texas is the first Wildcat kicker to ever make five field goals, connecting from 52, 47, 40, 37 and 30 yards out. With eight makes in his last two games, Loop vaults into a tie for 2nd among FBS kickers with his 12-for-15 season mark. The 16-point performance also pushed his career scoring total to 299, the fourth-most by any Arizona player in program history.
On Homecoming night in Jonesboro, Clune Van Andel’s fourth field goal made sure the Red Wolves went home happy, lifting Arkansas State to an 18-16 win over South Alabama. The sophomore from Grand Rapids, Mich. connected from 34 yards out with 10 seconds left to snag a win in the team’s Sun Belt Conference opener. He had kept Arkansas State in the game with short field goals from 25, 21 and 20 yards out to score all 9 of the team’s points through the first three quarters.
The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the “Stars of the Week” throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.
