Alex Raynor One of Three Finalists for the Lou Groza Award

UK Athletics Photo

One of the bright spots for the Kentucky offense this season — and at times the only scoring offense — has been kicker Alex Raynor.

How good has the Georgia Southern transfer been at UK?

He made a UK-record 18 consecutive field goals that ranked as the sixth-longest such streak in Southeastern Conference history and owns the career field goal percentage mark at Kentucky at .926 (25-for-27).

He set a school record with a 55-yard field goal against then-No. 1 Georgia in the near upset of the Bulldogs earlier this season. He also made a 51-yarder against Georgia, becoming only the second player in school history with two 50-yarders in one game and the first one since 1977.

Those numbers have helped him become one of three finalists for the 33rd Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award given to college football’s top kicker. The other finalists are Kenneth Almendares of Louisiana and Ryan Fitzgerald of Florida State.

Over 100 FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers voted on the finalists. Fortunately, I’ve been one of those on the voting list for years and it was great to have a Kentucky kicker clearly be one of the top three kickers this year.

Raynor ranks second in points (391) and PATs (181) and third in field goals made (70-for-84 amongst active FBS players going into Saturday’s game with Louisville.

Almendares leads all FBS kickers with 25 field goals made this season. His current 92.6 percent success rate would make him just the third kicker since 2008 to post the most field goals in the country while also connecting at 90 percent accuracy rate if he finishes the season that way. His two misses came on attempts from 53 and 60 yards.

Fitzgerald is still a perfect 12-for-12 on the season, giving him the most field goals by a kicker yet to miss. He joins 2013 Lou Groza Award winner Roberto Aguayo as the only kickers in Florida State history to begin a season with at least 12 consecutive makes. Even more impressive, five of those 12 field goals have been 59, 55, 54, 53 and 52 yards.
 
Kentucky fans can have a part in naming the winner of the Lou Groza Award.  Fans can go to www.lougrozaaward.com and cast a vote for their favorite of the three finalists selected by the national panel of voters. The finalist who receives the greatest total of fan votes will be given one vote on the final ballot and that could make the difference in who wins.

Raynor has made 12 of 13 field goals of 40 or more yards at UK and four of five from 50 yards or more.

Raynor graduated in May of 2023 from Georgia Southern with a degree in marketing. He earned an undergraduate certificate in business from UK in May and is working on a graduate certificate in sport, fitness and recreation management.