Drew Edmiston Named to Groza Watch List

[NewsCopy]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-The Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced it’s 2008 preseason Lou Groza College Place-Kicker Award watch list and Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns senior Drew Edmiston was among the 30 Division 1-A kickers named to the list.

The accolade marks the second time in his career that Edmiston was named to the Groza Watch List. He was named to the list in 2007 after he earned First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors during the 2006 season. Edmiston once again earned All-Conference praise in 2007. Edmiston did not miss any kicks from 40 yards or less in 2007 and was one of only two kickers who were perfect in Sun Belt play.

Earlier this year, Edmiston was named to the 2008 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.

Edmiston is the second kicker in the Rickey Bustle Era to be added to the watch list and the first to be named to the list twice. Former Ragin’ Cajuns kicker Sean Comiskey (2002-05) was named to the Groza Watch List in 2005.

Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2007 season and 2008 preseason expectations. During the season the Groza Awards Committee monitors the success of all kickers on a national level. Weekly, beginning Sept. 8, the award recognizes the three (3) outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week’s play.

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award announces its 20 semi-finalists on Tuesday, Nov. 11. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three (3) finalists for the award by Wednesday, Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner which will be aired on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (ET) during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.

The 17th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl, recognizes the three (3) finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 9 prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.

Last year’s Groza winner, Thomas Weber of Arizona State, and finalists, Jose Martinez of UTEP and Austin Starr of Indiana, again are on the Preseason Watch List of hopefuls competing for the coveted 2008 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award.

In addition to last year’s winner and finalists, five other semi-finalists have again been named to this year’s opening list. The 2007 semi-finalists returning are: Kyle Brotzman, Boise State; Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee; Ryan Pretorius, Ohio State; Louie Sakoda, Utah and Sam Swank, Wake Forest.

Five (5) former winners or nominees: Mason Crosby, Martin Gramatica, Sebastian Janikowski, Nate Kaeding and Mike Nugent became successful NFL kickers.

The award is named for NFL 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, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

RaginCajuns.com

[HoustonCajun]

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We have Edmiston to the Groza Watch List, Fisher to the Remington Watch List and Fenroy as a possible All American running back as potentially one of only 6 players in the history of college football to run for over 1,000 yards in 4consective years, plus two players returning in Fenroy and Desormeaux who both gained over 1,000 yards last year (can any other school claim that this year?). These are great honors for a team coming off a bad record. It would be nice to see all of this played up in a single article highlighting and reminding fans just how far our program has come and the expectations we should have this year.