Miami's Nicholson named Lou Groza Award semifinalist

Graham Nicholson, a member of the Miami University football team, is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2023 Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award, presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and the Orange Bowl.
 
Nicholson is one of three kickers in the country yet to miss a field goal this season and ranks first in the nation with 19 field goal makes. He has made a field goal in all 10 games this season and is a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals of 40-plus yards, including a career-best 52-yard boot in the win over Bowling Green.
 
The junior was 3-for-3 on field goals in the victory over Ohio and added three more makes in the win at Kent State. He also has 40 touchbacks on 54 attempts this season.
 
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 28 and honored at the 32nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4 in Palm Beach County.

The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, Dec. 8.
 
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.
 
Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 28 finalists, including 16 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 7 Super Bowls. That list includes 2023 NFL kickers Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Dustin Hopkins, Younghoe Koo, Jake Moody and Cairo Santos.