Tag: nathanial vakos

Wisconsin specialist named semi-finalist for Lou Groza Award

Wisconsin specialist named semi-finalist for Lou Groza Award

Despite Wisconsin’s disappointing 5-4 record and lack of positive buzz, Badgers kicker Nathanial Vakos is getting some national attention.

Vakos was named a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award earlier today, the award given to college football’s top place-kicker.

The former Ohio kicker is 22/22 on extra points this season and 12/14 on field goals. He is 1/1 inside of 20 yards, 2/2 from 20-29 yards, 5-5 from 30-39 yards, 3-3 from 40-49 yards and 1/3 from 50+.

Yes, you read that correctly. Vakos is 11/11 from inside of 50 yards this season. That is consistent production you rarely see at the college level.

Previous winners of the Lou Groza Award include Michigan’s Jake Moody in 2021, Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship in 2019, Utah’s Matt Gay in 2018 and UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn in 2015.

LOOK: Badgers new kicker is only one in Big Ten to do this

Strong start to Badgers’ career for new kicker

The Badgers football team has opened the season 3-1 and an underappreciated part of that has been the success of kicker Nathanial Vakos. Vakos is in his first season with Wisconsin after transferring to Madison from Ohio University this offseason.

Vakos is the only Big Ten kicker who’s been perfect while taking at least five kicks this season, going 7/7 through the Badgers’ four contests. Although some parts of the team, pretty much every aspect, have been inconsistent, he’s provided a stable asset on special teams.

Wisconsin is off this week, but they’ll be back in action next Saturday versus Rutgers at home at 11AM.

Badger Countdown: Number 29 makes 11 field goals in 2022

The 2023 CFB season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 29 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2.

The 2023 college football season is right around the corner and the Badgers are now 29 days away from their season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 2. With Luke Fickell coming to town, there have been many changes in personnel and kicker could be another one.

That being said, Nate Van Zelst, number 29 and second-year kicker went 11-for-14 (78.6%) on field-goal attempts and a perfect 35-for-35 on extra-point ties in 2022. Not bad for Van Zelst who replaced Collin Larsh as the starter last season.

This offseason though, Nathanial Vakos transferred to Madison from the Ohio University after he went 22-for-27 (81.5%) on field goals last year. Vakos and Van Zelst are expected to compete for the starting nod ahead of 2023, with Vakos currently having the upper hand.

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Wisconsin kicker named to Lou Groza Award watch list

More Watch List news:

Wisconsin kicker Nathanial Vakos was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list yesterday. The award is given out annually to the best place-kicker in college football.

Vakos transferred to Wisconsin from Ohio this offseason, part of the sizable transfer class brought in by Head Coach Luke Fickell. The Ohio native made 22 of 27 field goals for the Bobcats last year, including 9/9 from inside 30 yards, 8/9 from 30-40 yards, 3/5 from 40-50 and 2/4 from 50+.

His inclusion is a welcome boost to the team this season, as the Badgers made only 70% of their field goals last season, including an infamous pair of misses to cost the team a win against Washington State.

Vakos will look to become the first Badger to win the award. Other notable Big Ten winners include Michigan’s Jake Moody in 2021, Maryland’s Brad Craddock in 2014, Ohio State’s Mike Nugent in 2004, Iowa’s Nate Kaeding in 2002.