Auburn kicker Alex McPherson named Lou Groza Award semifinalist
AUBURN — Through 10 weeks of the college football season, there are currently three place kickers who remain perfect on field goals. Auburn’s Alex McPherson is one of them, hitting all nine of his attempts this season thus far.
That’s why McPherson was named a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. McPherson is one of 20 kickers named as semifinalists and has scored 56 points for the Tigers this season.
Hugh Freeze was recently said he’s “extremely comfortable” whenever McPherson steps onto the field to attempt a kick, even saying earlier this season that as soon as he crosses midfield, he’s thinking about how to get McPherson on the field for an opportunity.
Former Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson was a finalist for the award in 2015, 2016 and 2017. His younger brother Anders was a semifinalist in 2020. Former Auburn kicker Wes Byrum was a semifinalist for the award in 2009.
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has released the 20 semifinalists for the 2023 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl. These 20 kickers have all excelled throughout the season in earning their places as semifinalists.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on November 28th and honored at the 32nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4th in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 8th.
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.
