University of Hawaiʻi football senior Matthew Shipley has kicked his way into the semifinals for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl for the second time in his career.
He is currently 11-of-12 in field goals this season including a pair of 50-yarders in a win over Nevada. Shipley was also a semifinalist in 2021.
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.
Over Shipley’s career, he has converted 53-of-67 field goals for a 79.1%, which is currently ahead of Jason Elam’s all-time mark of 79.0%. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has converted 84.9% of his attempts (45-53) and has made 30 of his last 32 field goal attempts from 40 yards and in.
No UH kicker has ever won the award, however Elam was a finalist in that inaugural year.
The list of semifinalists will be trimmed to three finalists who will be honored at the 32nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4 in Palm Beach County.
The winner will be announced during the Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 8.
For more visit HawaiiAthletics.com.
