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.
.@QuinnNordin had a historic 2017 season.
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) July 25, 2018
He has been named to the @LouGrozaAward Watch List! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/I6bJ03qSDK
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.