Stevens Named to Groza Watch List

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior kicker Drew Stevens has been named to the 2024 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Friday. In its 33rd season, the award recognizes the nation’s best place-kicker.

Stevens (6-foot, 205-pounds) was a semifinalist for the award in 2022 and 2023. He is the third Hawkeye to be a two-time Groza Award semifinalist; Nate Kaeding won the award in 2002 and was a finalist in 2003, while Mike Meyer was a semifinalist in 2011 and 2012. 

Iowa has had a Groza Award semifinalist four of the last five seasons: Keith Duncan (2019), Caleb Shudak (2021) and Stevens (2022 and 2023).

The native of North Augusta, South Carolina, has converted 34-of-44 field goals and 43-of-44 PATs. Stevens’ 145 career points rank 22nd in school history heading into his junior season, and his 54-yard field goal against Northwestern as freshman ties for the seventh longest in program history.

The watch list highlights the 30 best returning kickers in the country. All FBS kickers remain eligible to be selected for weekly and postseason honors, with 20 semifinalists to be announced on Nov. 19, by the Groza Committee. 

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 Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Dec. 12 during the College Football Awards on ESPN.

The 33rd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 9 in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

The award is named for NFL Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named league player of the year in 1954. 

Stevens and the Hawkeyes kickoff the season against Illinois State on Aug. 31 at a sold-out Kinnick Stadium beginning at 11 a.m. (CT).