TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona football kicker
Tyler Loop was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List and punter
Kyle Ostendorp was selected to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, as announced today by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission (Lou Groza) and The August Sports Council (Ray Guy).
Loop and Ostendorp receive these preseason honors for the second straight year. The Lou Groza Award recognizes the top kicker in Division I and FBS football while the Ray Guy Award Watch list honors the top punter in Division I and FBS.
Ostendorp appears on the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the second straight year after averaging 45.5 yards per punt with three touchbacks and 10 inside the 20 a season ago. He uncorked nine punts of 50-plus yards during the 2022 season. Ostendorp booted a long 64 yards against Mississippi State in a game where he launched three punts of 50-plus yards. He was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
Loop earned 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and has been selected to the Lou Groza Award Watch List for the second straight year. He appeared in all 12 games as the team primary kicker and kickoff specialist. Loop made 18 of 21 attempts with a career long of 48 yards against Washington. Loop made nine straight field goals to end the season moving his career kicking totals to 30-for-33.
Arizona opens the 2023 football season at home against Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.
ABOUT THE LOU GROZA AWARD (LOOP)
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 4th in West Palm Beach, Florida. 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.
ABOUT THE RAY GUY AWARD (OSTENDORP)
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage and percentage of punts not returned with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline and have a positive impact on the team's success.
