CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Three standout kickers from the Atlantic Coast Conference have been named to the 2025 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List, announced Friday by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The annual award honors the top place-kicker in college football.
The ACC representatives are among 30 of the nation’s top returning kickers recognized on this year’s watch list.
With all three of last year’s finalists having graduated, the race for this year’s award is wide open. Just over half of the players on the preseason watch list have previously been named semifinalists, setting the stage for fierce competition. The list also features 11 returning FBS kickers who made good on more than 20 field goals last season, along with all four returning FBS kickers who attempted at least 15 field goals and converted at a 90 percent success rate or better.
ACC Players Named to the 2025 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List
Name, School, Class
Nolan Hauser, Clemson, Sophomore
Collin Rogers, SMU, Senior
John Love, Virginia Tech, Junior
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 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, November 25. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Friday, December 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 December 8 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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.
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.