Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech placekicker John Love has been named to the watch list for the Lou Groza Award which goes to the nation’s top kicker.
Love (5-11, 177) kicked in all 13 games last season, converting 22 of his 24 field goal attempts. His 91.7 percentage ranked sixth in the country. The Spartanburg, South Carolina product was one of only two kickers in the nation to finish last season with at least 20 field goals and an accuracy rate above 90%. Love also went a perfect 47 of 47 on extra points.
The Groza 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.
The 33rd 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 on December 9th in West Palm Beach, Florida.