Semifinalists named for Lou Groza Award

Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell joined teammate Eli Bowen with award honors Tuesday, days after the Sooners beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Shortly after Bowen was named the National Defensive Back of the Week and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Sandell was named one of 20 national semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, which is given to the best placekicker in college football.

He stands a good shot at making it as a finalist, too, with the season he’s putting together.

Sandell has made 21 of 22 field goal attempts, including 21 in a row, the longest streak in school history and the second-longest in SEC history. He’s also 7-of-7 on field goals from 50 yards or more and has three more field goals from that range than other kicker in the country.

Sandell, who is also perfect on all his point-after attempts this season, is one of just two kickers in FBS football since 1995 to make seven field goals from 50-plus yards without a miss. His four makes from 55 yards or greater is a school record and he’s one of only two FBS kickers in the last 30 seasons with four such from that distance.

Finalists for the award will be announced Tuesday and the winner will be selected Dec. 12 during the College Football Awards Show.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell named semifinalist for Lou Groza Award

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