Quinn Nordin on shortlist for Lou Groza Award

Sophomore kicker Quinn Nordin made the watch list for the 2018 Lou Groza Award Wednesday, given annually to the nation’s best place kicker.

He joins a list of 30 kickers selected by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, including two other Big Ten selections in Minnesota’s Emmit Carpenter and Wisconsin’s Rafael Gaglianone.

A semifinalist a year ago, the Rockford native converted 19 of his 24 kicks in 2017, including four of his six from beyond 40 yards. He made a splash in the opener against Florida, booting two field goals from 50-plus in the 33-17 win.

Oddly, he missed three of his 38 extra points. He did finish the year 4-for-4 in the Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina, making him the only FBS kicker last year with three games of at least four field goals.

The No. 1 kicker in the 2016 made national headlines when Jim Harbaugh slept over at his house to secure a commitment. He decommitted from Penn State to join the Wolverines.

The commission makes a 20-man semifinalist cut on Nov. 1, and then will announce three finalists by Nov. 20. The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6.