Szmyt Headlines 2019 Lou Groza Award Watch List

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Highlighted by 2018 winner Andre Szmyt, the 2019 Lou Groza Award Watch List was released today by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The Syracuse standout leads a group of 30 preseason candidates for the award, which is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Lou "The Toe" Groza and is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding kicker.

Szmyt, who is a redshirt sophomore, is bidding to become just the second kicker to win multiple Groza Awards in his career. Florida State's Sebastian Janikowski in the only previous kicker to achieve the feat, capturing the award in 1998 and 1999.

A 2018 unanimous All-American, Szmyt authored the best kicking season in program history as a redshirt freshman to win last year's Groza Award. He led the nation in field goals (30), field goals attempted (34), field goals per game (2.31) and points per game (11.6). Szmyt's 30 field goals were the most in NCAA history by a freshman and he finished the year with 151 points, the third-most ever for an FBS kicker.

Szmyt has been named to every major 2019 preseason All-America team. Earlier this month, he was ranked the No. 100 player in college football by Sports Illustrated. He was the only placekicker to make the publication's list of the Top 100 players for 2019.

Kickers selected for this year's Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2018 season and 2019 expectations. The 20 semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 7 and the three finalists will be named on Nov. 26. The Groza Award winner will be announced live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 12.

For more information about the Lou Groza Award, visit www.lougrozaaward.com.

The Orange kick off the 2019 campaign at Liberty on Saturday, Aug. 31 and open their home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 14 versus Clemson.

Season and single-game tickets are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) or in person at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center. Season tickets start at $125.

Syracuse's single-game ticket allotment for the Clemson game is sold out. The only way to guarantee a seat to watch the Orange and Tigers is through the purchase of a season ticket.

Syracuse Players on 2019 NCFAA Watch Lists
Bednarik Award: Andre Cisco, Alton Robinson
Doak Walker Award: Moe Neal
Biletnikoff Award: Sean Riley
Rimington Trophy: Airon Servais
Jim Thorpe Award: Andre Cisco
Nagurski Trophy: Andre Cisco, Alton Robinson
Ray Guy Award: Sterling Hofrichter
Lou Groza Award: Andre Szmyt

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Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Andre Cisco

Sterling Hofrichter

Moe Neal

Sean Riley

Alton Robinson

Airon Servais

Andre Szmyt

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