Alex Raynor Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist
Kentucky kicker Alex Raynor, who continues rewriting records in his outstanding career, has been named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl and given to college football’s top kicker.
Raynor is in his second season as a Wildcat after beginning his career at Georgia Southern. He currently has made a UK-record 18 consecutive field goals dating to 2023 and owns the career field goal percentage mark at Kentucky at .962 (25-of-26). Earlier this season he set a school record with a 55-yard field goal against then-No. 1 Georgia. Amongst active FBS players he ranks second in points (389), field goals made (70-of-83) and PATs (179). He also currently owns the sixth-longest streak in Southeastern Conference history for consecutive made field goals.
The Kennesaw, Georgia native is a William V. Campbell Trophy nominee for the second consecutive season (he is a semifinalist in 2024), was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in week five and a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week in week three. At UK, he is 12-of-13 on field goals of 40+ yards, including 4-of-5 on attempts of 50 yards or longer.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of 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 26th and honored at the 33rd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on December 9th in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 12th.
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.
