Football

SDSU's John Baron Named a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

SDSU's John Baron Named a Lou Groza Award SemifinalistSDSU's John Baron Named a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

Nov. 3, 2016

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - San Diego State sophomore John Baron II (Temecula, Calif.) has been named a semifinalist for the 2016 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl. Baron is one of 20 semifinalists for the prestigious award and the first Aztec semifinalist since J.C. Mejia in 2003.

On the season, Baron is nearly perfect, going 31-for-31 in PATs and 10-for-11 (.909) in field goal attempts. He ranks ninth in FBS in field goal percentage (.909) and 39th in field goals per game (1.25), and is one of 51 players yet to miss an extra-point attempt. Baron has also kicked off 51 times for 3,228 yards (63.3 avg.) with 13 touchbacks.

Baron, who has made eight consecutive field goals, is coming off a 4-for-4 field goal game at Utah State en route to tying a SDSU school record in field goals (4) and points by a kicker (16). He was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

All 20 semifinalists on the list have made at least 10 field goals and have converted more than 85 percent of their field goal attempts.

The three finalists for the award will be selected from a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers. The finalists well be announced on Nov. 22 and honored at the 25th annual Loo Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet Dec. 5 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 8.

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 setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. He was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. 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, go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.

Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 21 finalists, including 12 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning nine trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home five Super Bowls. That list includes current NFL kickers Roberto Aguayo, Dan Bailey, Randy Bullock, Mason Crosby, Graham Gano, Dustin Hopkins, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Cairo Santos, Caleb Sturgis, and Blair Walsh.

Winners of four consecutive games, 15 straight against conference opponents and 17 of its last 18 contests, San Diego State (7-1, 4-0 MW) plays host to Hawai`i (4-5, 3-2 MW) at 4 p.m. PT Saturday. Tickets can be purchased through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.