Baylor kicker John Mayers honored by Lou Groza Award

WACO, Texas – Sophomore place kicker John Mayers was honored on the watch list for the 2020 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Wednesday, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Mayers was a preseason All-Big 12 pick by Phil Steele following a breakout freshman campaign in 2019. The Flower Mound native converted 16-of-19 field goals on the year, including a career-long 51 yarder against TCU.

He was also successful on all 53 extra points for a total of 101 points on the year. He was a first team Academic All-Big 12 selection and earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors three times during the season.

Mayers redshirted the 2018 season, but saw action in the Texas Bowl win due to Connor Martin’s injury. In his debut, he was good on all three extra points as the Bears knocked off Vanderbilt.

The 29th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on December 7th.  

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.

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