LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior kicker Austin MacGinnis (pictured) has been awarded one of three “Stars of the Week” by college football’s top kicking award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl. This is MacGinnis’ second star this season.
MacGinnis, of Wedowee, Alabama, scored 16 points in Kentucky’s 40-34 win over Missouri on Saturday. He became UK’s all-time career scoring leader with 314 points and tied his career-best for points in a game. He made a 53-yarder for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter and became the first player in school history with three field goals in his career of at least 53 yards. He added makes of 35, 21 and 20 yards and was 4-for-4 on extra point attempts vs. the Tigers.
Overall this season, he has nailed 13 field goals, which is tied for second among all FBS kickers, and leads the Wildcats in scoring with 57 points.
MacGinnis, a nominee for the Lou Groza Award, holds the school records for most field goals in a career (63), longest field goal (54 yards), most consecutive field goals made (11), most points in a season (104), most field goals in a season (21), most extra points in a season without a miss (41 of 41) and most kickoff touchbacks in a season (25).
Off the field, MacGinnis excels in the classroom. He graduated in May of 2017 from the Gatton College of Business and Economics with a degree in finance. He is currently working on a master’s degree in finance with a projected graduation date of May of 2018. He is a four-time member of the Gatton College of Business Honor Roll, a three-time Southeastern Conference Honor Roll member and a three-time member of the UK Athletics Director’s Honor Roll, earning the highest grade point average on the football team for a given semester.
The Award is named after 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.
The Lou Groza Award will be presented as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards in Atlanta, GA on Thursday, December 7. The three finalists will be honored during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with the 26th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Monday, December 4.
Photo by Jamie H. Vaught
