Palm Beach County Sports Commission

2022 Top Three Finalists

 

Thank you to everyone who voted this year!

*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. Fans may vote once daily. Votes will only count if recieved by 11:59 p.m. on December 3, 2022. 

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 31^st Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award. Christopher Dunn of NC State, Joshua Karty of Stanford, and Jake Moody of Michigan will vie for the honor.

Dunn, a graduate student from Lexington, North Carolina, capped a record-setting career with his finest single season, going 24-for-25 on field goals. Both the total field goals and the 96.0% rate rank second in FBS this season, while his accuracy was the best by kickers with at least 20 attempts. 17 of those kicks came from at least 30 yards out, also the second-most in the country. Already the NC State program leader in both field goals and scoring, this season he set the ACC career records in those categories.

Karty, a junior from Burlington, North Carolina, became just the fourth kicker in FBS history to stay perfect on field goals through a full season, going 18-for-18 for the first season without a miss since 2013. He didn’t play it safe to get there, leading the country with 13 field goals from at least 40 yards out. Three of those came from over 50, including a 61-yard blast that set a new Cardinal record. It was the longest kick in FBS by five yards and the third-longest FG in the last 10 seasons. He went 5-for-5 on field goals against Arizona State, scoring every point in a 15-14 come-from-behind win.

Moody, a graduate student from Northville, Michigan, is the reigning Lou Groza Award winner and vying to become just the second kicker to ever win multiple times, joining Sebastian Janikowski. He led all FBS kickers with 26 field goals, setting Michigan’s single-season record in a year in which he also became the program’s all-time leader. 18 of those kicks came from at least 30 yards out, the most in the country. He broke his own program record with 131 points, the most in FBS by any player at any position.

This year, fans can have their part in naming the winner of the Lou Groza Award. Fans can visit www.lougrozaaward.com and cast a vote for their favorite of the three finalists selected by the national panel of voters. The finalist who receives the greatest total of fan votes will be given one vote on the final ballot. One vote can make a difference in the final outcome, so fans are encouraged to participate. 

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 31^st annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 5^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 Thursday, 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, 28 finalists, including 16 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 2022 NFL kickers Rodrigo Blankenship, Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson Mason Crosby, Jake Elliott, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Dustin Hopkins, Younghoe Koo, and Cairo Santos.

National College Football Awards Association

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit NCFAA.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.

About 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 support 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, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches, and the annual Holiday Basketball Classic of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please visit LouGrozaAward.com, or follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter for updates as they happen.  Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jared Fleet at (561) 233-3120 or JFleet@palmbeachsports.com.