UL' Kenneth Almendares wins 2024 Lou Groza Award, Past Winners

UL' Kenneth Almendares wins 2024 Best Kicker Lou Groza Award, Past Winners

The best kicker for the 2024 college football season hails from Cajun Country. At the 2024 College Football Awards show on Thursday, Louisiana football's Kenneth Almendares won the 2024 Lou Groza Award, earning him the title of the best college football kicker in the nation.

All year long, the fifth-year senior kicker has been a weapon in the Ragin' Cajuns' back pocket as they knew when he took the field they would be coming away with some points. He finished the 2024 regular season making 27 out of 29 field goal attempts with his longest make coming from 53 yards out.

Along the way to near perfection, Almendares etched his name in UL history by breaking the school's record for most career points scored by a kicker (362) and PATs (158) along with single-season records in field goals made and points. He finished the season on track to maintain a 90% average of makes, making it look easy on special teams.

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Winners List by year 1992-2024

Winners of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission:

2024_Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

2023_Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)

2022_Christopher Dunn, North Carolina State.

2021_Jake Moody, Michigan

2020_Jose Borregales, Miami

2019_Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

2018_Andre Szmyt, Syracuse

2017_Matt Gay, Utah

2016_Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State

2015_Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA

2014_Brad Craddock, Maryland

2013_Roberto Aguayo, Florida State

2012_Cairo Santos, Tulane

2011_Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

2010_Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State

2009_Kai Forbath, UCLA

2008_Graham Gano, Florida State

2007_Thomas Weber, Arizona State

2006_Arthur Carmody, Louisville

2005_Alexis Serna, Oregon State

2004_Mike Nugent, Ohio State

2003_Jonathan Nichols, Mississippi

2002_Nate Kaeding, Iowa

2001_Seth Marler, Tulane

2000_Jonathon Ruffin, Cincinnati

1999_Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State

1998_Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State

1997_Martin Gramatica, Kansas State

1996_Mark Primanti, North Carolina State

1995_Michael Reeder, Texas Christian

1994_Steve McLaughlin, Arizona

1993_Judd Davis, Florida

1992_Joe Allison, Memphis

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