They may not be “football players” according to some folks but, dammit, kickers are people too and deserve some recognition for something other than missing a kick and costing their team a game.
In that vein, the Lou Groza Award Thursday announced its 20 semifinalists for the 2014 version of the booting honor. The headliner for this year’s group of semifinalists is last year’s winner, Florida State’s Robert Aguayo.
There are also three other 2013 semifinalists who made the cut this year: Maryland’s Brad Craddock, Arizona State’s Zane Gonzalez, and Utah’s Andy Phillips. Additionally, two 2012 semifinalists -- Duke’s Ross Martin and TCU’s Jaden Oberkrom -- made a return trip after being absent in 2013.
If I were a voter -- and as it happens I am -- my three votes for finalists would go to Aguayo, Craddock and West Virginia’s Josh Lambert at the moment. That could change, though, in the two weeks before they’re due.
Anyway, below are the 20 finalists for the 2014 Groza Award:
Corey Acosta, Southern Miss
Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
Kyle Bullard, Houston
Will Conant, Air Force
Brad Craddock, Maryland
Sam Ficken , Penn State
Elliott Fry, South Carolina
Ian Frye, Virginia
Andrew Gantz, Cincinnati
Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State
Ben Grogan, Oklahoma State
Ammon Lakip, Clemson
Josh Lambert, West Virginia
Justin Manton, Louisiana-Monroe
Ross Martin, Duke
Cole Murphy, Syracuse
Jaden Oberkrom, TCU
Andy Phillips, Utah
Scott Secor, Ball State
John Wallace, Louisville