University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Riley Patterson named semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
Nov 07, 2019 | Football
Patterson is one of 20 semifinalists on the list
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Junior place kicker Riley Patterson has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2019 Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl. Patterson is one of just two kickers in the American Athletic Conference to be named as a semifinalist (Jake Verity, ECU).
Patterson was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List earlier this summer. This is the first time he has been named a semifinalist and it is the first time a Memphis kicker has been named a semifinalist since Jake Elliott in 2016. Elliott was a three-time semifinalist for the award.
Against No. 15 SMU, Patterson was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goal opportunities and 6-for-6 in PATs to record a career-high 18 points for the Tigers. His 18 points matched the program record set by Ryan White vs UAB in 1999. He also became the first Memphis kicker since 2003 to make at least three field goals in one quarter. For his efforts against SMU, Patterson was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
The Edwardsville, Illinois native is 43-for-44 in PATs this season and 11-for-13 in field goals. Patterson has boomed two field goals of 50 yards, being one of just five FBS kickers with multiple 50-plus field goals while making 80 percent of their kicks. In his career, Patterson has connected on three 50-plus yard field goals.
In his career, Patterson is second behind Elliott with 182 PATs and third all-time behind Elliott and Stephen Gostkowski with 293 points scored.
Last summer, Patterson had a summer internship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the Sports Marketing department.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 25 and honored at the 28th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 9 in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 12.
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.
Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 27 finalists, including 15 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home six Super Bowl championships.
That list includes 2019 NFL kickers Dan Bailey, Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson, Mason Crosby, Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Dustin Hopkins, Mike Nugent and Cairo Santos.
Memphis enters its second bye weekend of the year with an 8-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in AAC play. The Tigers have back-to-back road games on tap with a trip to Houston on Nov. 16 followed by a visit to USF on Nov. 23. The team will close the regular season with Cincinnati on Nov. 29. Tickets for the home finale, which will also be Memphis' Senior Day, are on sale now by calling (901) 678-2331.
Patterson was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List earlier this summer. This is the first time he has been named a semifinalist and it is the first time a Memphis kicker has been named a semifinalist since Jake Elliott in 2016. Elliott was a three-time semifinalist for the award.
Against No. 15 SMU, Patterson was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goal opportunities and 6-for-6 in PATs to record a career-high 18 points for the Tigers. His 18 points matched the program record set by Ryan White vs UAB in 1999. He also became the first Memphis kicker since 2003 to make at least three field goals in one quarter. For his efforts against SMU, Patterson was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
The Edwardsville, Illinois native is 43-for-44 in PATs this season and 11-for-13 in field goals. Patterson has boomed two field goals of 50 yards, being one of just five FBS kickers with multiple 50-plus field goals while making 80 percent of their kicks. In his career, Patterson has connected on three 50-plus yard field goals.
In his career, Patterson is second behind Elliott with 182 PATs and third all-time behind Elliott and Stephen Gostkowski with 293 points scored.
Last summer, Patterson had a summer internship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the Sports Marketing department.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 25 and honored at the 28th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 9 in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 12.
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.
Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 27 finalists, including 15 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home six Super Bowl championships.
That list includes 2019 NFL kickers Dan Bailey, Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson, Mason Crosby, Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Dustin Hopkins, Mike Nugent and Cairo Santos.
Memphis enters its second bye weekend of the year with an 8-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in AAC play. The Tigers have back-to-back road games on tap with a trip to Houston on Nov. 16 followed by a visit to USF on Nov. 23. The team will close the regular season with Cincinnati on Nov. 29. Tickets for the home finale, which will also be Memphis' Senior Day, are on sale now by calling (901) 678-2331.
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