Underdog Watch List: Lou Groza and Ray Guy Awards

As the national award watch lists are announced throughout July, we’ll let you know which Group of 5 players are preseason candidates for them. The watch lists will come out each weekday from July 10 until July 21.

Today the watch lists focus on specialists. The Lou Groza Award recognizes the nation’s best place kicker while the Ray Guy Award is given to the best punter.

Lou Groza Award Watch List

Louie Zervos, Ohio Bobcats

Jonathan Barnes, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Luke Strebel, Air Force Falcons

John Baron II, San Diego State Aztecs

Redford Jones, Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Bryce Crawford, San Jose State Spartans

Aaron Boumerhi, Temple Owls

Kody Kroening, Fresno State Bulldogs

Canon Rooker, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Jason Sanders, New Mexico Lobos

Skyler Simcox, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Stevie Artigue, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns

Parker Shaunfield, Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Matthew Wright, UCF Knights

Ray Guy Award Watch List

Derek Adams, Kent State Golden Flashes

Matt Bonadies, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Bailey Cate, Old Dominion Monarchs

Jake Collins, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green Falcons

Jonathan Hernandez, South Florida Bulls

Logan Laurent, Massachusetts Minutemen

Spencer Smith, Memphis Tigers

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Selections by conference:

AAC: Five

C-USA: Seven

Sun Belt: One

Independent: One

The American saw Tulsa, Temple, USF, UCF, and Memphis each have one selection. For C-USA, Middle Tennessee and WKU each got both their kicker and punter listed. La Tech, Southern Miss, and Old Dominion each also had a player recognized. UMass also had a selection. The Sun Belt was not recognized by either list.

Total Watch List Selections Thus Far

AAC: 25

C-USA: 21

Sun Belt: 12

Independents: Three

Last G5 Winners

Lou Groza: 2012 - Cairo Santos, Tulane

Ray Guy: 2013 - Tom Hornsey, Memphis