James Stefanou named as a semifinalist for Lou Groza Award

Colorado Buffaloes kicker James Stefanou was announced as a semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award that recognizes the nation’s best placekicker. The list of twenty players was released by Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Thursday.

Stefanou joins Will Oliver and Mason Crosby as the third player in CU history to be named as a semifinalist. The 30-year old is the second-oldest player in college football, coming over from Australia where he was a professional soccer player for the last decade.

"Really do the best that I could, simple as that," Stefanou said in a statement "Just to learn the operation, learn how to kick with the rush, kick with a snap and a hold at a high level and do the best that I could. J.T. (Bale, CU's snapper) and T.J. (Patterson, the holder) have done a great job and I'm really proud of our whole operation."

Stefanou is one of two freshmen on the list along with San Antonio's Jared Sackett. He has two misses on the season going 13-of-15 on field goals and perfect on 28 PAT’s. CU’s single-season record for field goal accuracy for 20 attempts was set Crosby in 2004 (19-23, 82.6 %)

Six kickers from the Pac-12 have received the Lou Groza award since the inception in 1992. Stefanou could become just the second freshman in history to win the award after Florida State’s Roberto Aguyao in 2013.