RENO, Nev. – After a stellar true freshman campaign in 2019, sophomore placekicker
Brandon Talton has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top placekicker.
Talton was one of just 30 from around the country to make the initial watch list. He joins Matt Mercurio of San José State and Matt Araiza of San Diego State as the only three to be selected from the Mountain West. This marks the first preseason watch list honor of Talton's career.
Talton, who was named to the All-MW second team last year, had an impressive rookie season with the Wolf Pack. His 21 made field goals are tied for third-most in a single season at Nevada. Talton began the season making the first 13 field goal attempts of his career without a miss. He was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week on three occasions, including after week one when he drilled a 56-yard field goal to beat Purdue. His 21 field goals were tied for third in the MW, while his 56-yard game-winner was the second-longest field goal made by anyone in the conference last season and was tied for seventh-longest nationally.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Nov. 5. 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 Nov. 24. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Dec. 10 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 Dec. 7.
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.
