Auburn’s Daniel Carlson has kicked his way into the Auburn record books this season, and he is receiving national attention for his efforts.
Carlson was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award — awarded annually to the nation’s best place-kicker — on Tuesday.
Carlson has connected on all 35 extra-point attempts and 20 of 23 field goal attempts this season. His 20 places him in a tie for seventh in the NCAA.
The sophomore has made four field goals of over 50 yards and 14 consecutive kicks this season, both Auburn records.
"From a coaching staff standpoint, we have a lot of confidence in him when [the ball] crosses the 30 or 35 yard line," coach Gus Malzahn said Nov. 3. "He has a high success rate ... He has to be one of the best place-kickers in college football. I think at the end of the year, everybody will see him up for all of those awards, and I think that will be very warranted."
The other finalists are UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn and Memphis’s Jake Elliott.
Fairbairn has converted over 90 percent of his field goal attempts with a long of 60 yards, while Elliott leads the nation with 22 made field goals.
The winner award will be selected with votes from FBS coaches, sports information directors, former Groza Award winners and national college football writers. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
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