AUBURN, Ala. Auburn’s Alex McPherson is one of 30 kickers named to the Lou Groza Award watch list, the Palm Beach Sports Commission announced Friday.
The only active FBS kicker with a career rate of 90 percent on 20 or more attempts, McPherson holds Auburn’s record for consecutive made field goals with 20.
A junior from Fort Payne, Alabama, McPherson was a Groza Award semifinalist as a redshirt freshman in 2023 before missing most of last season with an illness. Now recovered, McPherson worked out during the summer with Auburn’s specialists.
“It gives me some confidence that my body can hold up, that I can trust it and not have to worry about it every step of the way like I had to last year,” McPherson said. “I think this is definitely one of the strongest groups in the country. We have three really strong kickers, we’ve got three strong punters. This group is definitely special and it’s going to be something to look out for this year.”
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, Nov. 18. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Friday, Dec.12 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 34th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 8 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Groza 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.