Purdue kicker Mitchell Fineran was named to the 2022 Lou Groza Award preseason watch list, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Wednesday.
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the nation's best placekicker in college football. Michigan kicker Jake Moody was the recipient of the award following the 2021 season.
Fineran is entering his second season with the Boilermakers after transferring from Samford University for the 2021 season. He started all 13 games for Purdue football and was 24-of-29 on his attempts on the year.
Fineran finished first in the Big Ten and third in the nation by averaging 1.85 field goals per game. He began the season going 3-of-3 in the team's opener against Oregon State and would also finish the year by nailing all four of his kicks in a 48-45 overtime victory against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, including the game-winner.
After a stellar season, Fineran was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the conference's coaches and the media.
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