TAMPA, Fla. — South Florida junior kicker Nico Gramatica has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Friday.
Gramatica is one of 35 players selected to the national list and one of three representatives from the American Athletic Conference.
The award, presented by the Orange Bowl, honors the top place-kicker in college football and will recognize three finalists at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 7.
The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza, a four-time NFL champion with the Cleveland Browns and the 1954 NFL Player of the Year.
The recognition comes after Gramatica’s first season as USF’s full-time starter, during which he earned Second Team All-AAC honors. Last season, he connected on 18 of 24 field goal attempts, tying for the fourth-most field goals in a single season in school history.
He also converted 59 of 60 point-after attempts, setting a program record for PATs made in a season.
Gramatica finished the year with 113 total points, the second-highest single-season scoring mark in program history. His campaign included a 52-yard field goal during a win against No. 25 Boise State and a game-winning 20-yard kick in a victory over No. 13 Florida.
Gramatica joins graduate guard Caleb Cook, who was named to the Outland Trophy watch list, as Bulls players recognized on national award lists entering the year.
South Florida opened fall practice on Aug. 5 under first-year head coach Brian Hartline. The Bulls, coming off a 9-4 record last season, return four starters alongside 62 incoming players. USF kicks off its 30th season of football on Sept. 5 against FIU at 7 p.m., marking the program’s final season at Raymond James Stadium before transitioning to a new on-campus stadium.
READ: USF To Headline New A-10/American Showcase Against Saint Louis On ESPN
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