Baylor Football’s Isaiah Hankins Named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Baylor football redshirt sophomore kicker Isaiah Hankins has been named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week for Week 8, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Tuesday.

Hankins was outstanding for the Bears in their 32-29 victory at Cincinnati on Saturday, making all four of his field goal attempts and adding two PATs. The lefty from Little Rock, Ark., connected twice on kicks of 43 yards out, nailed a 46-yarder and hit a career-long 54-yard attempt in helping BU to its second road win of the season. His four field goals and 14 points scored were both career bests.

Hankins also tied a program record in becoming the ninth kicker to make four FGs in one game and the first since 2017. Additionally, Hankins handled kickoff duties for the first time this season and tallied three touchbacks in eight tries. Earlier this week, Hankins was previously named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

For the season, Hankins has made 15 of his 18 field goal attempts and has racked up 56 total points. He recently moved into the top-10 on Baylor’s all-time career points list for kickers (10th, 163) and career field goals made leaderboard (ninth, 29). Hankins also currently sits second in program history with a .744 career field goal percentage, behind only John Mayers (.756).

Each week, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl recognizes three of the top kickers from FBS division teams as “Stars of the Week.” The Award is named for NFL 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.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the “Stars of the Week” throughout the season, please visit www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on social media.