Jameson Vest Named to Lou Groza Award Watch List→

Toledo, Ohio— University of Toledo placekicker Jameson Vest (Peachtree City, Ga.) was named to the official watch list for the 2018 Lou Groza Award on Wednesday, as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Since 1992, the Lou Groza Award has been annually given to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker as determined by a voting panel of Division I head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters from across the county, conference representatives, professional kickers and previous winners.

A 2017 Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Vest was named First-Team All-MAC last season after converting 25 of his 30 field goal attempts. He posted career highs in field goals made, field goal percentage (83.3), and points scored (131). Among active FBS kickers, Vest has successfully completed the second-most field goals (57) and tallied the third-most points (337). Coming into the 2018 season, the senior ranks fourth in school history in career field goals made, and last season broke the previous single-season record for field goals.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be recognized during a gala awards banquet at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 3. The 2018 Lou Groza Award winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Award Show on Thursday, Dec. 6.

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.

Vest and the Rockets open their season at home vs. VMI on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. For ticket information, go online or call 419-530-GOLD (4653).