University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Andy Mead
Burnette Named To 2024 Lou Groza Award Watch List
August 2, 2024 | Football
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. - North Carolina's Noah Burnette has been named a preseason candidate for the prestigious Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented annually to the top college football place-kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
Last season, Burnette appeared in 11 games and made 19-of-20 field goal attempts and all 43 PATs. He finished fourth in the FBS in field goal percentage (95%), led the ACC in field goal percentage (95%) and was one of eight in the ACC to hit all his PAT attempts. Burnette finished 11th nationally and led the ACC in points per game (9.1) and went 6-of-6 on FGs of 40 yards or more. Following the 2023 campaign, he earned second-team All-ACC honors from the league and the Associated Press.
Only two returning FBS kickers are coming back from seasons in which they attempted at least 20 field goals and made them at a 95% rate or better: Burnette and reigning Groza winner Graham Nicholson.Â
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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.
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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.Â
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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.
Last season, Burnette appeared in 11 games and made 19-of-20 field goal attempts and all 43 PATs. He finished fourth in the FBS in field goal percentage (95%), led the ACC in field goal percentage (95%) and was one of eight in the ACC to hit all his PAT attempts. Burnette finished 11th nationally and led the ACC in points per game (9.1) and went 6-of-6 on FGs of 40 yards or more. Following the 2023 campaign, he earned second-team All-ACC honors from the league and the Associated Press.
Only two returning FBS kickers are coming back from seasons in which they attempted at least 20 field goals and made them at a 95% rate or better: Burnette and reigning Groza winner Graham Nicholson.Â
Â
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.
Â
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.Â
Â
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.
Players Mentioned
Place-Kicker
/ FootballTuesday, June 23
Sunday, June 21
Sunday, June 21
Saturday, June 20