Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies place kicker Randy Bond (47) kicks the ball in the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images. Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Texas A&M Aggies' Randy Bond Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

Originally posted on Texas A&M Aggies on SI
By Jon Alfano | Last updated Nov 19, 2024 6:01 PM ET

The Texas A&M Aggies are lucky to have one of the most-reliable kickers in the country in Randy Bond, and he's getting the national recognition he deserves.

On Tuesday, Bond was named as one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, annually given to the best kicker in college football. The finalists will be announced on Nov. 26 and honored at a banquet in Palm Beach County, Florida on Dec. 9. The winner will be revealed at ESPN's College Football Awards on Dec. 12.

➡️ Randy Bond #GigEm | @LouGrozaAward pic.twitter.com/3VMj31nzZH
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) November 19, 2024

Bond, a graduate student from Plano, Texas, has been nothing short of great this season. He's made 17 of 19 field goals (both misses coming against Florida on Sept. 14) and made all 36 of his extra point attempts. He's also the only kicker in the SEC to make two field goals of 50+ yards in the same game, hitting from 52 and 55 (a career-long) yards out against South Carolina on Nov. 2.

The growth Bond has shown this season is incredibly impressive. He made just 26 of 35 field goals in 2023 and 13 of 17 in 2022, so seeing him now become one of the most-accurate kickers in the country is remarkable.

Only one Aggie has won the Lou Groza award previously, that being Randy Bullock in 2011. That season, Bullock made 29 of 33 field goals and 55 of 57 extra points to earn a consensus All-American selection. Bullock went on to play 11 NFL seasons with six different teams, most notably playing six games for the New York Giants in 2023.

If Bond can continue to make his kicks, and help the Aggies in their College Football Playoff push, then he would only strengthen his case for the award.

This article first appeared on Texas A&M Aggies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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