ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez a semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
Nov 3, 2016, 3:01 PM | Updated: 10:14 pm
Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez (5) kicks a field goal from the hold of Matt Haack (26) as Northern Arizona's Maurice Davison (20) arrives late during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Thursday in a press release that Arizona State senior kicker Zane Gonzalez is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2016 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.
Gonzalez is the only kicker on the FBS leader board to reach 20 field goals so far this season. Six of those are from at least 50 yards out, which includes the longest kick of the year — a 59 yard make — that gave him the FBS record for career scoring by a kicker. In addition, his accuracy great, as he is converting field goals at a 95.2 percent clip.
How great is #ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez? The 20 Groza semifinalists have made 13 FGs of 50 yds+. He's made six of 'em & gone 6-7.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 3, 2016
The Sun Devil has earned four “Lou Groza Star of the Week” awards this season and boasts six for his career, which is the most of any active kicker.
The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. In addition to winning four championships, he set multiple records that include most games played, points scored and 107 consecutive games where he scored. Groza was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Finalists will be announced on Nov. 22 and honored at the 25th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 5 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The winner will be announced and broadcast live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8.
