uab k delange A GROZA AWARD SEMIFINALIST
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - November 19, 2024
UAB sophomore Jonah Delange was selected as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker.
Delange is one of 20 semifinalists and the only kicker from an AAC team. Three finalists will be chosen by a panel of FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers. The finalists will be announced on Nov. 26 and honored at the Groza Award banquet on Dec. 9 in Palm Beach County, Florida. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12.
Delange is 19 of 20 on field goals this season and has made all 24 extra point attempts. He has the third highest field goal percentage (.950) of any kicker in the nation with a minimum of 10 attempts, ranks third nationally in field goals made per game (1.90) and his 19 field goals made are tied for fifth most in the country. Delange is one of six semifinalists to have just one miss on field goals and extra points combined. Florida State’s Ryan Fitzgerald is the lone semifinalist without a miss on field goals and extra points. But he has fewer combined attempts (21) than any other semifinalist.
Delange is also closing in on the school record for successful field goals in a season. Swayze Waters made a school record 22 field goals on 28 attempts in 2007. Waters was also a Lou Groza Award semifinalist that season. Delange is currently tied with Waters and Nick Vogel for second place on the list. Waters made 19 field goals in 2008 and Vogel matched that in 2019. Delange has two more games – at home against Rice and at Charlotte - to chase the record.
2024 LOU GROZA AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Kenneth Alemendares, Louisiana: 22-of-24 FGs, 91.6 percent, 35-of-35 PATs, 92 points, Long of 53 yards, 2-of-4 from 50-plus
Randy Bond, Texas A&M: 17-of-19 FGs, 89.4 percent, 32-of-32 PATs, 80 points, long of 55 yards, 2-of-2 from 50-plus
Andre Borregales, Miami: 13-of-14 FGs, 92.9 percent, 48-of-48 PATs, 87 points, long of 56 yards, 2-of-2 from 50-plus
Lucas Carneiro, Western Kentucky: 11-of-12 FGs, 91.6 percent, 35-of-35 PATs, 68 points, long of 54 yards, 3-of-3 from 50-plus
Caden Chittenden, UNLV: 22-of-27 FGs, 81.4 percent, 43-of-44 PATs, 109 points, long of 46 yards, 0-of-2 from 50-plus
Caden Davis, Ole Miss: 20-of-23 FGs, 86.9 percent, 47-of-49 PATs, 107 points, long of 57 yards, 2-of-3 from 50-plus
Jonah Delange, UAB: 19-of-20 FGs, 95 percent, 24-of-24 PATs, 81 points, long of 52 yards, 2-of-2 50-plus
Dom Dzioban, Miami (Ohio): 20-of-23 FGs, 86.9 percent, 23-of-24 PATs, 83 points, long of 51 yards, 1-of-2 from 50-plus
Will Ferrin, BYU: 19-of-22 FGs, 86.3 percent, 35-of-35 PATs, 92 points, long of 54 yards, 2-of-3 from 50-plus
Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State: 11-of-11 FGs, 100 percent, 10-of-10 PATs, 43 points, long of 59 yards, 5-of-5 from 50-plus
Gino Garcia, Texas Tech: 15-of-16 FGs, 93.7 percent, 25-of-25 PATs, 70 points, long of 53 yards, 1-of-2 from 50-plus
Jonathan Kim, Michigan State: 18-of-20 FGs, 90 percent, 17-of-19 PATs, 71 points, long of 55 yards, 3-of-4 from 50-plus
Tyler Loop, Arizona: 16-of-20 FGs, 80 percent, 20-of-22 PATs, 68 points, long of 62 yards, 5-of-7 from 50-plus
Laith Marjan, South Alabama: 15-of-16 FGs, 93.7 percent, 32-of-34 PATs, 77 points, long of 49 yards, 0-of-1 from 50-plus
Alex Raynor, Kentucky: 15-of-15 FGs, 100 percent, 22-of-23 PATs, 67 points, long of 55 yards, 2-of-2 from 50-plus
Collin Rogers, SMU: 19-of-25 FGs, 85.7 percent, 40-of-40 PATs, 97 points, long of 55 yards, 7-of-10 from 50-plus
Ben Sauls, Pitt: 17-of-20 FGs, 85 percent, 36-of-36 PATs, 81 points, long of 58 yards, 4-of-4 from 50-plus
Brock Taylor, Vanderbilt: 16-of-19 FGs, 84.2 percent, 30-of-31 PATs, 78 points, long of 57 yards, 5-of-6 from 50-plus
Peyton Woodring, Georgia: 16-of-17 FGs, 94.1 percent, 30-of-30 PATs, 75 points, long of 55 yards, 2-of-3 from 50-plus
Dominic Zvada, Michigan: 13-of-14 FGs, 92.8 percent, 19-of-20 PATs, 58 points, long of 56 yards, 5-of-5 from 50-plus