WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Texas A&M kicker David Olano was named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Friday. The Lou Groza Award is given annually to the nation's best place-kicker.
Olano, a graduate transfer from Illinois, earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition from the media in 2025. Last season, he made a career-high five field goals at Purdue, connecting from 35, 42, 45, 34 and 40 yards, while kicking a career-high seven PATs against Western Illinois. Olano enters the season having converted six consecutive field goals and 53 straight PAT attempts.
The Naperville, Illinois, native has appeared in 35 career games, totaling 193 points while converting 37-of-43 (.860) field goals and 82-of-83 (.988) PATs. Olano has registered 15 games with at least seven points and six contests with 10 or more points, including a career-high 19 after converting five field goals and four PATs against Purdue in 2025. He has also handled kickoff duties throughout his career, totaling 115 kickoffs for 7,221 yards (62.79 average) with 73 touchbacks.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season, and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists Tuesday, Nov. 17. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced Tuesday, Nov. 24. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced Thursday, Dec. 10 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 35th 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 Dec. 7 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
About the Lou Groza Award
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.