UF kicker Evan McPherson has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Wednesday.
The Groza Award is given annually to the nation’s top placekicker. Last year, it was given to Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship.
From the watch list, 20 semifinalists will be chosen on Nov. 5. The list will then be further cut to three finalists on Nov. 24 before the winner is announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
McPherson is no newcomer to the watch list; it’s the junior’s third time appearing on it in three seasons. As a true freshman in 2018, he was a semifinalist for the award, hitting 17 of 19 field goals. He repeated that performance as a sophomore, giving him the 10th-best field-goal percentage nationally (as well as the best in the SEC). He was accurate even from range, making 7 of 8 attempts from 40 yards or longer.
His 89.5 percent conversion rate on field goals is currently the best mark in school history and tied for the best career mark by an active FBS kicker with multiple seasons.
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