Matthew Dapore named to Lou Groza Award Watch List
8/2/2024 10:04:00 AM | Football
Senior kicker honored for third time in his career
Air Force senior kicker Matthew Dapore has been named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List, the organization announced today. This is the third time Dapore has been named to the watch list and was a semifinalist in 2022.
An honorable mention all-MW selection last season, Dapore hit 15-19 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points to lead the Falcons in scoring with 79 points. He ranked among the conference leaders in field goal percentage (fourth, .789), field goals (fifth, 1.250 and scoring (10th, 6.6). Dapore is also Air Force's nominee for the Campbell Trophy, which goes annually to the top student-athlete in college football.
The Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country. Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 19th. From this list, a panel of FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 26th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 12th during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 33rd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 9th in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on X.
For more information on the East Club presented by L3Harris and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
To purchase East Club Tickets click HERE.
The Falcon Athletic Fund is hosting public tours ahead of the 2024 football season. Click HERE to RSVP for an early access look at the new East Club presented by L3Harris.
National College Football Awards Association
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
An honorable mention all-MW selection last season, Dapore hit 15-19 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points to lead the Falcons in scoring with 79 points. He ranked among the conference leaders in field goal percentage (fourth, .789), field goals (fifth, 1.250 and scoring (10th, 6.6). Dapore is also Air Force's nominee for the Campbell Trophy, which goes annually to the top student-athlete in college football.
The Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country. Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 19th. From this list, a panel of FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 26th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, December 12th during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 33rd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 9th in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on X.
For more information on the East Club presented by L3Harris and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
To purchase East Club Tickets click HERE.
The Falcon Athletic Fund is hosting public tours ahead of the 2024 football season. Click HERE to RSVP for an early access look at the new East Club presented by L3Harris.
National College Football Awards Association
The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
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