WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Coming off a solid campaign a year ago, senior placekicker Diego Guajardo was selected to the 2023 Lou Groza Award Watch List as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission on Wednesday.

The award is presented annually to the nation's top place-kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission with 33 players from around the country named to the initial watch list.

Guajardo is the first Jaguar placekicker to be named to the preseason watch list since Aleem Sunnon was prior to the start of the 2015 season. He was one of three kickers – Louisiana's Kenneth Almendares and Arkansas State's Dominic Zvada – from around the Sun Belt Conference to be recognized on the preseason list.

Thus far, Guajardo has been named second-team all-conference by the league coaches as well as three other major publications. Guajardo earned all-conference from Phil Steele a year ago and was a Lou Groza semifinalist during the 2022 season. 

He was perfect on the year in field goals through the first nine games of the season. The Daphne, Ala., native ranked nationally in four different categories, including sixth in field goal percentage (.947), which was also tied for third-highest, single-season percentage in Sun Belt history. Guajardo also ranked 29th in field goals per game and was in the top 50 in scoring and total points scored and had six games of two or more field goals, including five in conference play. He finished the year 18-for-19 in field goals, including 5-for-5 from 40-49 yards and connected on 46-of-48 extra point attempts.

The Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Thursday, November 9, 2023. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers will select the top three finalists for the award, which will be announced on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced in December during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

ABOUT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SPORTS COMMISSION
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and a local membership program that supports its goals. Local, regional, national, and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

ABOUTH THE LOU GROZA AWARD
The 32nd Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 4 in West Palm Beach, Fla.  

The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.

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