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OU kicker Tate Sandell a Lou Groza Award finalist

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo9 hours agoBPrzybylo

Not a shock at all, but now official for OU kicker Tate Sandell. The Sooner star was named as one of the three finalists for the 34th Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Tuesday.

Sandell is joined on the list of finalists by Georgia Tech’s Aidan Birr and Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa.

Sandell has arguably been the team MVP, helping OU to its 9-2 record and No. 8 ranking in the College Football Playoff.

“Been a huge part of our success this year,” said head coach Brent Venables on Tuesday. “Proud of him, how he’s handled his success. He’s the same guy every day, really really high standards. He’s actually a great leader. Not just showing up every day and working, but he’s got a big voice.

“Players really like the things he has to stay. He’ll stand up and not flinch in front of them. As I’ve told you guys before, he looks at himself, as a little guy, but he doesn’t see himself as just a little guy. He’s got a lot of courage and toughness to him that resonates with rest of the team.”

He was slowly putting together a great season before breaking out this month in having a monster role in helping OU to road wins at Tennessee and Alabama.

For the season? Sandell has made 22 of 23 field goal attempts (95.7%) and all 30 of his extra point attempts. He has made each of his last 22 field goal attempts, good for the longest streak in program history. Sandell has made a school-single-season-record seven FGs of 50-plus yards (7 for 7), the most nationally this season, with no other kicker making more than four. 

Sandell has made a nation-leading and OU-single-season-record 15 field goals of 40-plus yards. And nothing will stand out more than his performance at Neyland Stadium against the Vols. He tied a school-single-game record at Tennessee with his four field goals (55, 51, 40, 55 yards). And tied the Neyland Stadium record for longest field goal (55 yards; twice).

Sandell, who transferred to OU from UTSA in the spring, also leads the country with his average-make distance of 42.0 yards (min. 18 conversions). The next highest average nationally is 38.7 yards. 

This year, fans can take part in naming the winner of the Lou Groza Award by casting a vote for their favorite of the three finalists by visiting www.lougrozaaward.com. The finalist who receives the most fan votes will be given one vote on the final ballot.

The finalists will be honored at the 34th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Deb. 8 in Palm Beach County, Fla. The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, Dec. 12.

OU, after all, has never produced a Groza Award winner.

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