NOTRE DAME, Indiana — University of Notre Dame senior placekicker Jonathan Doerer was selected to the 2020 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List, honoring the top collegiate placekicker in the nation.
In 2019, Doerer was a perfect 57-for-57 on PATs while going 17-for-20 on field goals with a pair of makes from beyond 50 yards. He scored 108 points on the year, the most prolific scoring season by a kicker in school history, and became the first kicker in school history and just the sixth player at Notre Dame to have a 100-plus point season.
Doerer, in his first full season as the starting kicker, ended the season with 62 consecutive PATs made, tied for the sixth-longest streak in school history. He earned the game ball against Southern Cal after making three field-goal attempts from 45, 52 and 43 yards, also becoming the fourth kicker in school history with multiple 50-plus yard field goals in a season and the fifth to have multiple 50-plus yard field goals in a career. He owns two of the top 10 games for kicking points scored with 16 points against Boston College and 15 points against Iowa State.
About the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
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.
While the Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country, the Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers throughout the season, and releasing a weekly “Stars of the Week” feature on www.lougrozaaward.com. All FBS kickers remain eligible to be selected as semifinalists.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, November 5th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 24th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 10th during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
The 29th 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 at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on December 7th.
About the National College Football Awards Association
The Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about the association.
Following is the 2020 preseason watch list calendar:
Monday July 13: Chuck Bednarik Award (Kyle Hamilton, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah)
Tuesday July 14: Davey O’Brien Award (Ian Book)
Monday July 20: Butkus Award (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah)
Tuesday July 21: Outland Trophy (Aaron Banks, Liam Eichenberg, Jarrett Patterson)
Tuesday, July 21: Nagurski Award (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Drew White)
Wednesday July 22: Groza Award (Jonathan Doerer)
Thursday July 23: Hornung Award & Wuerffel Trophy
Friday July 24: Maxwell Award