2 SEC kickers recognized as Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week
By SDS Staff
Published:
College football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.” This week, two of the three kickers recognized come from the SEC.
Second chances mean everything. After missing a 34-yard field goal in the 4th quarter, Auburn kicker Anders Carlson connected from 39 yards with twenty seconds left to play to lift the Tigers to a 30-28 victory over Arkansas in SEC action in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday. The junior from Colorado Springs, Colo. also scored from 47 and 25 yards and made three PATs for a twelve point game. His 21 points lead all Tiger players in scoring and with 212 for his career, he moved to 12th all-time at Auburn. Anders is the younger brother of three-time Lou Groza Award finalist Daniel Carlson.
Georgia sophomore Jack Podlesny kicked two career-long field goals in Georgia’s 44-21 SEC victory over Tennessee on Saturday in Athens, Ga. The St. Simons Island, Ga. native kicked a 47 yarder to give the Bulldogs the lead at 17-14 to set his first mark and then, after also connecting from 25 yards, set a new long at 51 yards to regain the lead at 23-21. That one is the longest by a Georgia kicker since the 53-yard boot by reigning Groza winner Rodrigo Blankenship in 2018. He is already 7-for-8 on field goals in the brief SEC season. With five PATs, the 14-point game brings his season total to a team-leading 32.
East Carolina senior Jake Verity was also recognized as a Star of the Week.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
