Troy University Athletics
Troy's Greg Whibbs Named To Lou Groza Watch List
8/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2006 Preseason Watch
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - All three of last year's top three finalist and kickers from some of the top-ranked teams in the country highlight the 2006 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List.
Troy University junior Greg Whibbs, a native of Pensacola, Fla., was one of the players named to the watch list. Whibbs is returning for his third season as the Trojans' kicker. He has connected on 23 of 34 field goals over the last two seasons and has successfully converted 51 of 54 PAT kicks.
The Watch List is comprised of the top 30 preliminary candidates for the 15th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The top three finalists are honored during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The winner is announced on Thursday, December 7, 2006 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.
Among kickers named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List a Lou Groza Award finalist from last year, Mason Crosby of University of Colorado, Jad Dean of Clemson University, and Alexis Serna of Oregon State University.
Also making the list are the place-kickers from some of the top rated teams this season. They include: Chris Hetland, University of Florida; Brandon Coutu, University of Georgia; Kyle Schlicher, Iowa; Arthur Carmody, University of Louisville; Garrett Rivas, University of Michigan; Jordon Congdon, University of Nebraska; Paul Martinez, University of Oregon; Chris Manfredini, TCU; James Wilhoit, University of Tennessee; Alex Trlica, Texas Tech; Brandon Pace, Virginia Tech.
A brief biography of each player on the Lou Groza Award Watch List can be found at www.lougrozaaward.com beginning August 16, 2006.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2005 season and 2006 preseason expectations. However, all Division I-A kickers are eligible for consideration for the award.
A panel of over 300 experts vote on the award, including Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and all previous Groza Award finalists.
The 20 semi-finalists for the Lou Groza Award are announced on Tuesday November 7, 2006, followed with the naming of the three finalists two weeks later on Tuesday, November 21, 2006.
The award, now in its 15th year, is named for National Football League (NFL) Hall-of-Fame kicker Lou 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. Nicknamed The Toe,” Groza was one of the first people to truly make kicking an art form, and he helped usher in to football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.
The Lou Groza Award is also sponsored by BankAtlantic, The Breakers, Continental Airlines, ESPN Radio 760, ESPN Regional Television, Florida Atlantic University Athletics, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling, Hartless Foundation, JBS Destination Solutions, Palm Beach Gardens Marriott, Palm Beach Kennel Club, The Palm Beach Post, Parallax Productions, PGA National Golf Club, Rooney's Public House, Team A-fin-ity Sportfishing and WPEC News-12.
For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com or contact Dusty Ann Williams at the Palm Beach County Sports Institute at (561) 233-3122.
Preseason Watch List
| NAME | YEAR | SCHOOL |
| Jad Dean | Sr. | Clemson |
| Mason Crosby | Sr. | Colorado |
| Robert Lee | Sr. | East Carolina |
| Andrew Wellock | Sr. | Eastern Michigan |
| Chris Hetland | Sr. | Florida |
| Clint Stitser | Jr. | Fresno State |
| Brandon Coutu | Jr. | Georgia |
| Jason Reda | Jr. | Illinois |
| Kyle Schlicher | Sr. | Iowa |
| Danny Horwedel | Jr. | La. Tech |
| Arthur Carmody | Jr. | Louisville |
| Garrett Rivas | Sr. | Michigan |
| Jordon Congdon | So. | Nebraska |
| Kenny Byrd | Sr. | New Mexico |
| John Deraney | Sr. | North Carolina State |
| Bruce Redden | Sr. | Oklahoma State |
| Paul Martinez | Sr. | Oregon |
| Alexis Serna | Jr. | Oregon State |
| Jeremy Ito | Jr. | Rutgers |
| Darren McCaleb | Sr. | Southern Mississippi |
| Chris Manfredini | Jr. | TCU |
| James Wilhoit | Sr. | Tennessee |
| Alex Trlica | Jr. | Texas Tech |
| Greg Whibbs | Jr. | Troy |
| Justin Medlock | Sr. | UCLA |
| Sergio Aguayo | Jr. | UNLV |
| Reagan Schneider | Sr. | UTEP |
| Brandon Pace | Sr. | Virginia Tech |
| Sam Swank | So. | Wake Forest |
| Taylor Mehlhaff | Jr. | Wisconsin |
