Szmyt Named Groza Award Semifinalist
11/10/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
The most accurate kicker and highest-scoring player in Syracuse football history is a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist.
Andre Szmyt, the 2018 winner of the award, made the cut as one of the 20 semifinalists for the award, which honors the nation's top placekicker.
Szmyt has connected on 15-of-17 field goal attempts this season and remains perfect from inside 40 yards. He also has made two field goals from longer than 50 yards, including tying a career long with a 54 yarder against Notre Dame. He has also made all 31 PAT attempts.
For his career, Szmyt holds Syracuse records of 430 points, 80 field goals made and his 80-of-96 (83.3) career mark makes him the most accurate kicker in program history.
Presented by the Orange Bowl, the 20 semifinalists will be narrowed down to three finalists on Nov. 29 and honored at the 31st annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Banquet on Dec. 5 in Palm Beach County. The winner will be selected live during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8, which will be broadcast live on ESPN.
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.
Szmyt, along with his senior teammates, will be playing his final game in the Dome on Saturday vs. Florida State. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. and tickets are still available at Cuse.com/Tickets.
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Andre Szmyt, the 2018 winner of the award, made the cut as one of the 20 semifinalists for the award, which honors the nation's top placekicker.
Szmyt has connected on 15-of-17 field goal attempts this season and remains perfect from inside 40 yards. He also has made two field goals from longer than 50 yards, including tying a career long with a 54 yarder against Notre Dame. He has also made all 31 PAT attempts.
For his career, Szmyt holds Syracuse records of 430 points, 80 field goals made and his 80-of-96 (83.3) career mark makes him the most accurate kicker in program history.
Presented by the Orange Bowl, the 20 semifinalists will be narrowed down to three finalists on Nov. 29 and honored at the 31st annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Banquet on Dec. 5 in Palm Beach County. The winner will be selected live during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 8, which will be broadcast live on ESPN.
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.
Szmyt, along with his senior teammates, will be playing his final game in the Dome on Saturday vs. Florida State. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. and tickets are still available at Cuse.com/Tickets.
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Players Mentioned
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