Palm Beach County Sports Commission

2023 Top Three Finalists

*Fan votes will count toward naming the winner of the Lou Groza Award. The finalist who receives the greatest total of fan votes will be given one vote on the final ballot. The voting has now closed. Alabama's Will Reichard has won the fan vote.

Lou Groza Award Announces Final Three

WEST PALM BEACH — The national panel of college football experts assembled by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission has selected the three finalists for the 32^nd Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. Graham Nicholson of Miami University, Jose Pizano of UNLV, and Will Reichard of Alabama will vie for the honor.

Nicholson, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, finished the regular season a perfect 23-for-23 on field goals, the most ever in a full FBS season without a miss. With the MAC Championship and a bowl game still to play, he stands three makes away from setting the all-time FBS record for consecutive field goals in a single season. He kicked field goals in every game this year, including three 3-for-3 performances, all in conference play.

Pizano, a senior from Lehi, Utah, brought award-winning credentials with him from FCS Missouri State and instantly became one of the top kickers at the FBS level, setting virtually every single-season record at UNLV. His 23 field goals are the most ever by a Rebel and included a run of 19 straight to set a new program mark as well. He kicked two game-winners, one as part of a 4-FG game against Vanderbilt and the other his record-setting 6^th field goal of the game against Colorado State.

Reichard, a graduate student from Hoover, Alabama, caps one of the great collegiate careers of all time by becoming just the 12^th kicker in history to be voted a Groza finalist more than once. He has amassed 530 points in his career, tied for the most by any player in FBS history. This season, his 3-for-3 mark on kicks from at least 50 yards gives him the most by any kicker who didn’t miss from long distance, perhaps not surprising given his 8 career makes from 50+ are the most in Alabama history.

This year’s finalists were selected by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers. These finalists will be honored at the 32^nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4^th in Palm Beach County. The same voting panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 8^th. For more information on the Lou Groza Award and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, visit www.palmbeachsports.com.

Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 30 finalists, including 17 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 7 Super Bowls. That list includes 2023 NFL kickers Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson Jake Elliott, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Dustin Hopkins, Younghoe Koo, Jake Moody and Cairo Santos.

National College Football Awards Association

The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards honor national players of the week each Tuesday.

For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and a local membership program that supports its goals. Local, regional, national, and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.