Oct. 29, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Penn State's Collin Wagner has been selected among the semifinalists for the 2010 Lou Groza College Place-kicker Award presented by the Discover Orange Bowl.
A native of State College, Wagner is having an outstanding senior season, having made 14 of 17 (82.3) of his field goal attempts this season. He is tied for third nationally in field goals made per game (2.00) and is tied for fourth in number of field goals made (14).
Wagner has connected on 6 of 7 field attempts from 40 yards or longer this season, including a career-long 49-yarder vs. Youngstown State, whch he matched at Minnesota. Among the 20 Groza Award semifinalists, Wagner has made the second-highest number of field goals 40 yards or longer, trailing only Oklahoma State's Dan Bailey, who is 7 of 7.
Wagner has made at least one field goal in eight consecutive games, tied for the nation's fourth-longest streak. Over the past eight games, Wagner is 18 of 21 (85.7).
The former State College Area High School standout is fourth in the Big Ten in kick scoring with 55 points (7.9 ppg), having made 14 field goals and all 13 of his PAT attempts.
In his second season as the Nittany Lions' starting placekicker, Wagner tied the school record by connecting on five field goals in the 22-13 win over Temple on Sept. 25. Wagner was 4 of 4 on field goals vs. LSU in the 2010 Capital One Bowl, hitting the game-winner in the final minute.
The Big Ten has four kickers among the Groza Award semifinalists, tied with the Big 12 for the highest total of any conference. Joining Wagner from the BIg Ten are: Devin Barccly (Ohio State), Dan Conroy (Michigan State) and Derek Dimke (Illinois).
Groza Award semifinalists will be voted on by NCAA Division I Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors, along with national, regional and local football writers and others, who will select three finalists. The finalists will be honored at the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 7 in West Palm Beach, Fla. The winner will be announced live on the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on ESPN on December 9.
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.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to follow the semifinalists, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com
The Nittany Lions host No. 25 Michigan on Saturday for an 8:00 p.m. kick. ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com will air the critical Big Ten clash from Beaver Stadium.