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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A semifinalist a year ago, UTSA sophomore Jared Sackett has been named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award watch list, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Wednesday.

Sackett, a 2017 USA TODAY Freshman All-American, is one of 30 players chosen for the preseason list and one of three from Conference USA, joining FIU's Jose Borregales and Southern Miss' Parker Shaunfield.

One of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award last fall, Sackett made a school-record 19 field goals as a true freshman in 2017, the most successful kicks by a Football Bowl Subdivision freshman last season. The Fort Worth native ranked third in the FBS in field goals per game (1.9) and ninth in field-goal percentage (.864). An honorable mention all-conference selection, he was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 20 after making all three field goal attempts, including the game-winner with two seconds left, in the 9-7 victory against Marshall.

The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Nov. 1. From this list, a panel of more than 300 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award by Nov. 20. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Dec. 6 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

The 27th 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 at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 3.

The award is named for 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. 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.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.



- UTSA -