It seemed only fitting arguably the best kicker in NCAA history would win the highest award given at the position following his senior season.
Zane Gonzalez finished his four-year career at Arizona State as the all-time FBS leader in field goals made (96) and points by a kicker (494).
Thursday night in Atlanta he picked up some hardware winning the 25th Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, edging out Daniel Carlson of Auburn and Younghoe Koo of Georgia Southern.
The Texas native connected on 23 of 25 attempts in 2016. He joins Thomas Weber (2007) as the two Sun Devil kickers who have now won the award. Gonzalez made 14 field goals from at least 40 yards (led all FBS kickers) and was 7-9 on attempts from 50 yards or more. That mark, the second-most ever from long distance in an FBS season, includes the longest field goal of the year, a 59-yarder that was also the kick to give him the all-time record for career points by a kicker. The steady Gonzalez was also named to the 2016 Walter Camp All-America First Team.
Gonzalez has had a whirlwind week “on the circuit” leading up to Thursday’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show. He joined Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to talk about his season, the legacy he’s leaving behind at ASU and what lies ahead as he hopes for an opportunity to kick in the NFL.
Eric Sorenson
