Michigan kicker Brendan Gibbons headlines Lou Groza Award watch list

The 2013 preseason watch lists for the Lou Groza Award and Ray Guy Award, best kicker and best punter in college football, were released Wednesday and one Michigan player made the cut.

Redshirt junior Brendan Gibbons was named to the Lou Groza watch list. In 2008, Gibbons shared the Lou Groza Award as the Palm Beach High School Place-Kicker of the Year Award, and he was a finalist for the award as a junior.

Quarterback Devin Gardner and offensive tackle Taylor Lewan were named to the Maxwell Award watch list Monday, while tight end Devin Funchess was named to the John Mackey Award watch list Tuesday.

Finalists for both of the specialist awards will be announced in November, and the Lou Groza will be awarded on Dec. 10, while the Ray Guy will be awarded Dec. 12.

Iowa kicker Nate Kaeding (2002) and Ohio State’s Mike Nugent (2004) are the only Big Ten players to win the Lou Groza.

Wisconsin kicker Kevin Stemke (2000) was awarded the Ray Guy in its inaugural season, and Purdue’s Travis Dorsch (2001) and Ohio State’s B.J. Sander (2003) make up the only other Big Ten players to win the award.