ASU’s Zane Gonzalez and Matt Haack named to preseason watch lists
Jul 7, 2016, 1:08 PM
Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez (5) smiles as he celebrates his game-winning field goal against Utah with teammate Shane Till, left, after overtime in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated the Utah 19-16 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Zane Gonzalez and Matt Haack join Demario Richard, Salamo Fiso and Kody Kohl as the Arizona State Sun Devils who have been put on award watch lists for the 2016 season.
Gonzalez has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list for the third straight season, while Haack was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list.
The Lou Groza Award is given to the nation’s best placekicker, while the Ray Guy Award is given to the nation’s top punter.
Entering 2016, Gonzalez has 73 career field goals, which puts him just 15 behind the FBS record held by Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins.
In terms of ASU history, Gonzalez is just eight field goals behind Luis Zendejas’ school record of 81. The two are the only kickers in school history to have 20 or more field goals in multiple seasons.
Additionally, Gonzalez owns the top three spots for single season points among all ASU kickers.
Haack, who was named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award for the first time, has earned national credibility due to his past performances.
In Week 5 of 2015, he was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week when he punted eight times for 345 — 43.1 yards per punt — with five punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
Thirty-two of his 74 punts last season were downed inside the 20, good for second in the nation in that category.
If you take out the four longest returns — 79, 45, 40 and 30 yards — opponents averaged just 1.04 yards on the other 70 punts.
