Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Dylan Mulder Named to Lou Groza Award Watch List
7/10/2013 10:01:00 AM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Sophomore kicker named to watch list which honors the top collegiate place-kicker
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University place-kicker Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) is among the outstanding kickers who headline the 30-player Watch List for the 2013 Lou Groza College Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.
As a "true freshman" Mulder finished the year with the sixth highest field goal percentage of any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) kicker with at least 10 attempts. He posted three double-digit scoring games, including a 3-for-3 performance in EMU's 29-23 win over Western Michigan.
Mulder appeared in 10 games for the Green and White, making 10 out of his attempted 11 field goals for the season, three of which were beyond the 40 yard line. He also connected on 24 out of his 27 attempted PATs and was the team leader in points scored with 54. Named MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 19, Mulder booted a career-high three field goals, including a career-long 43-yard kick, in the win at WMU, Nov. 17. He also tallied 18 points in the victory over Army, Oct. 20, nailing two field goals as well as six PATs.
He becomes the first Eagle named to the list since Andrew Wellock made the list four times in his career. Wellock was selected as an Associated Press Third Team All-American after an outstanding 2004 season that saw him finish runner-up for the 2004 Lou Groza Award. He also made the Lou Groza Watch List in his other three seasons, chosen as a semifinalist in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2012 season and 2013 expectations. Ten conferences are represented among the 30 kickers, led by four each from the ACC, Big Ten, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference, while the Mountain West placed three representatives. The American, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and the Sun Belt each had two kickers recognized, along with independent Notre Dame. While the Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country, Tulane senior Cairo Santos, who was not on the 2012 Watch List, stands as proof that the Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers during the season, and releasing a weekly "Stars of the Week" feature on www.lougrozaaward.com.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Monday, Nov. 4. From this list, a panel of more than 300 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, and former winners selects the top three finalists for the award by Monday, Nov. 25. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, Dec.12, during the Home Depot College Football Awards, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.
The 22nd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, recognizes the three finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 10th, prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.
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. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
As a "true freshman" Mulder finished the year with the sixth highest field goal percentage of any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) kicker with at least 10 attempts. He posted three double-digit scoring games, including a 3-for-3 performance in EMU's 29-23 win over Western Michigan.
Mulder appeared in 10 games for the Green and White, making 10 out of his attempted 11 field goals for the season, three of which were beyond the 40 yard line. He also connected on 24 out of his 27 attempted PATs and was the team leader in points scored with 54. Named MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 19, Mulder booted a career-high three field goals, including a career-long 43-yard kick, in the win at WMU, Nov. 17. He also tallied 18 points in the victory over Army, Oct. 20, nailing two field goals as well as six PATs.
He becomes the first Eagle named to the list since Andrew Wellock made the list four times in his career. Wellock was selected as an Associated Press Third Team All-American after an outstanding 2004 season that saw him finish runner-up for the 2004 Lou Groza Award. He also made the Lou Groza Watch List in his other three seasons, chosen as a semifinalist in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2012 season and 2013 expectations. Ten conferences are represented among the 30 kickers, led by four each from the ACC, Big Ten, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference, while the Mountain West placed three representatives. The American, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and the Sun Belt each had two kickers recognized, along with independent Notre Dame. While the Watch List highlights 30 of the best returning kickers in the country, Tulane senior Cairo Santos, who was not on the 2012 Watch List, stands as proof that the Groza Committee will be watching all FBS kickers during the season, and releasing a weekly "Stars of the Week" feature on www.lougrozaaward.com.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Monday, Nov. 4. From this list, a panel of more than 300 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, and former winners selects the top three finalists for the award by Monday, Nov. 25. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, Dec.12, during the Home Depot College Football Awards, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.
The 22nd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl Committee, recognizes the three finalists during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 10th, prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.
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. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
2013 Lou Groza Award Watch List
(In Alphabetical Order)
Chris Boswell – Rice
Kyle Brindza – Notre Dame
Jeff Budzien – Northwestern
Chandler Catanzaro – Clemson
Brian Davis – Arkansas State
Jeremiah Detmer – Toledo
Nick Diaz – Utah State
Mitch Ewald – Indiana
Nate Freese – Boston College
Andrew Furney – Washington State
Brendan Gibbons – Michigan
Warren Harvey – East Carolina
Michael Hunnicutt – Oklahoma
Cody Journell – Virginia Tech
Ty Long – UAB
Austin Lopez – San Jose State
Ross Martin – Duke
Mike Meyer – Iowa
Tony Miliano – Cincinnati
Dylan Mulder – Eastern Michigan
Jaden Oberkrom – TCU
Cody Parkey – Auburn
Kaleb Patterson – Miami (OH)
Jared Roberts – Colorado State
Trevor Romaine – Oregon State
Cairo Santos – Tulane
Will Scott – Troy
Mathew Sims – Northern Illinois
Carey Spear – Vanderbilt
John Wallace – Louisville
(In Alphabetical Order)
Chris Boswell – Rice
Kyle Brindza – Notre Dame
Jeff Budzien – Northwestern
Chandler Catanzaro – Clemson
Brian Davis – Arkansas State
Jeremiah Detmer – Toledo
Nick Diaz – Utah State
Mitch Ewald – Indiana
Nate Freese – Boston College
Andrew Furney – Washington State
Brendan Gibbons – Michigan
Warren Harvey – East Carolina
Michael Hunnicutt – Oklahoma
Cody Journell – Virginia Tech
Ty Long – UAB
Austin Lopez – San Jose State
Ross Martin – Duke
Mike Meyer – Iowa
Tony Miliano – Cincinnati
Dylan Mulder – Eastern Michigan
Jaden Oberkrom – TCU
Cody Parkey – Auburn
Kaleb Patterson – Miami (OH)
Jared Roberts – Colorado State
Trevor Romaine – Oregon State
Cairo Santos – Tulane
Will Scott – Troy
Mathew Sims – Northern Illinois
Carey Spear – Vanderbilt
John Wallace – Louisville
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