At the end of every college football season, awards are given out to the best player from any team of their respective position. For kickers, it is the Lou Groza Award, and The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has released 20 names as semifinalists for the 2018 Lou Groza Award.

Four SEC kickers were named, two from each division.

Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, Florida’s Evan McPhearson, Arkansas’ Connor Limpert, and LSU’s Cole Tracy.

Blankenship, known for his wearing his big glasses every time he sets foot on the football field,  has been a standout kicker in the SEC his entire Georgia career. Blankenship made the field for his seven field goals made from 40 yards or more this season. Through eight games this season Blankenship has made 13 field goals out of 15 attempts, with a long of 53, and no missed extra points, going 36 for 36 so far.

As for McPhearson, he made the list for connecting on 92.3 percent of his field goal tries in what has been a surprisingly successful season for the Gators in Dan Mullen’s first year. McPhearson is only a freshman, but has made 12 field goals out of his 13 tries, with a long of 48 and a perfect 27 for 27 on extra points.

LSU’s Cole Tracy is another SEC kicker who has converted on at least 90 percent of his kicks this season, the senior graduate transfer is 21 for 23 with a long of 54, and a perfect 24 for 24 on extra points. We saw Tracy work under pressure when he nailed a 42-yard field goal as time expired to beat Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium this season, LSU might need that big leg in the huge matchup against Alabama this Saturday if the game goes down to the wire.

Finally, junior kicker Connor Limpert at Arkansas has been one of the few bright spots this season for the Razorbacks. Although he has missed more field goals than the other finalists, he has made 16 out of 20 this season and is 27 for 27 on extra points.

Not all of these kickers will be competing for championships this season, but Cole Tracy and Rodrigo Blankenship certainly have their eyes on the SEC Championship and beyond.