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Barnes named to Lou Groza watch list

Thursday, July 29, 2021
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Photo by Tim Smith

In the tradition of Louisiana Tech kickers, Jacob Barnes has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list.


Louisiana Tech’s Jacob Barnes has been named to the 2021 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Wednesday.

Barnes, a native of Baton Rouge, was a 2020 Lou Groza National Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist. The redshirt freshman kicker/punter was named an all-Conference USA honorable mention and was second team all-Louisiana in 2020.

He appeared in all 10 games for the Bulldogs in 2020 and was a perfect 33-for-33 in PATS, including a career-best 9-for-9 against Houston Baptist on Nov. 26.

Barnes opened the 2020 season with eight straight made field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder against HBU. He finished the season 12-for- 14 in field goals, including the game-winning 35-yarder in double overtime against UAB on Oct. 31.

While the Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country, the Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers throughout the season, and releasing a weekly “Stars of the Week” feature on www.lougrozaaward.com.

All FBS kickers remain eligible to be selected as semifinalists.

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, Nov. 4.

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 Tuesday, Nov. 23. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 9 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

The 30th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, 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. 6.

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.

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