UF's Caleb Sturgis Named Semifinalist For Lou Groza Award
Monday, November 9, 2009 | Football
University of Florida sophomore Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine, Fla.) was announced as one of 20 semifinalists for the 2009 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Monday. These 20 place-kickers have all excelled throughout the season in earning their places as semifinalists.
Sturgis has connected on 17-of-20 (.850) field-goal attempts for the top-ranked Gators and has converted on two or more kicks in all seven SEC games for Florida. He is a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond 40 yards, highlighted by an SEC-long 56-yarder in the 41-17 victory over Georgia on Halloween. Sturgis also booted a game-winning 27-yard field goal to lift UF past Arkansas.
This year's list of candidates for the 18th annual Award is led by 2008 semifinalist Leigh Tiffin from Alabama, a frequent “Star of the Week” selection who has earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition during the season. Tiffin is the only 2008 semifinalist to make the final 20 this season.
At the time of the release, Tiffin and UCLA junior Kai Forbath were tied for the national lead in field goals made with 20 each. The only candidate among the final 20 who has yet to miss a kick, field goal or PAT, is Craig Ratanamorn, a senior from Marshall University. He's been successful on 11 of 11 field-goal tries and all 22 of his extra-point attempts.
Semifinalists will be voted on by all Division I Head Coaches and SID's, along with national, regional and local football writers and others who will select the three (3) finalists. These finalists will be honored at the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Dec. 8 in West Palm Beach, Fla. The winner will be announced live on the nationally-televised Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on the evening of Thursday, Dec.10.
The award is named in honor of one of the all-time great kickers in football history, Lou Groza. Groza played 21 seasons for the Cleveland Browns, setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. The 1,608 career points he scored is still a Browns' franchise record, and he ranks third all-time in league. Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Past Groza finalists include current NFL kickers Nate Kaeding, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Martin Gramatica, Jason Elam and Mason Crosby.
2009 Lou Groza Semifinalists
Wes Byrum, Auburn
Jordan Congdon, Southern California
Stefan Demos, Northwestern
Morgan Flint, Oregon
Kai Forbath, UCLA
Alan Gendreau, Middle Tennessee
Kevin Goessling, Fresno State
Alex Henery, Nebraska
Spencer Lanning, South Carolina
Hunter Lawrence, Texas
Joe Phillips, Utah
Robert Randolph, Virginia
Craig Ratanamorn, Marshall
Grant Ressel, Missouri
Will Snyderwine, Duke
Caleb Sturgis, FLORIDA
Brett Swenson, Michigan State
Nick Tausch, Notre Dame
Leigh Tiffin, Alabama
Blair Walsh, Georgia
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