HONOLULU — University of Hawai‘i place-kicker Dan Kelly was named to the Lou Groza Preseason Watch List yesterday as one of the premier college kickers in the country. Kelly, a 6-3 right-footed kicker, is 23-of-32 in field goals over his
HONOLULU — University of Hawai‘i place-kicker Dan Kelly was named to the Lou Groza Preseason Watch List yesterday as one of the premier college kickers in the country.
Kelly, a 6-3 right-footed kicker, is 23-of-32 in field goals over his two year career. Last season, he booted 13-of-17, including 9-of-11 from 39 yards and in.
The list is comprised of the top 29 preliminary candidates for the 16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The top three finalists will be honored during the awards banquet Tuesday, Dec. 4. The award will be presented Thursday, Dec. 6, during the ESPN “Home Depot College Football Award Show” broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2006 season and 2007 preseason expectations. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for consideration for the award.
The 20 semi-finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced Tuesday, Nov. 6, followed by the naming of the three finalists two weeks later on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
The award, is named for National Football League (NFL) 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.