IU Kicker Logan Justus Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

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Logan Justus has been solid in his first year as IU’s field goal specialist Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Logan Justus has been solid in his first year as IU’s field goal specialist Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana redshirt junior Logan Justus is one of 20 semifinalists for the 2018 Lou Groza Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced today.

Justus has made 11-of-13 field goals (84.6 percent) and 23-of-24 extra points. A walk-on out of McCordsville, Ind., the left-footer is third in the Big Ten in field goal percentage (T-17th nationally) and shares third in field goals made (T-25th).

In league games only, Justus is 9-of-10 (90.0) on field goals and 11-of-11 on extra points. He shares the top spot in field goals made, is third in percentage, and is fifth among kickers and 10th overall in scoring (6.3 points per game).

Justus recorded his first three-field goal game (T-9th in program history) at Minnesota. He made six straight three-pointers after his first miss, with a career-best 44-yarder at Rutgers, before missing a 50-yarder at No. 3 Ohio State.

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. 20 and honored at the 27th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 3 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. 6.

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, 26 finalists, including 14 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home seven Super Bowls. That list includes 2018 NFL kickers Dan Bailey, Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson, Mason Crosby, Jake Elliott, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Zane Gonzalez, Dustin Hopkins, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Cairo Santos, and Caleb Sturgis.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.

The Lou Groza Award will be presented live as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 6. The three finalists will be honored during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with the 27th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet, presented by the Orange Bowl, on Monday, Dec. 3.