Thomas Weber Named Groza Award Finalist

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University redshirt freshman kicker Thomas Weber has been named one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, awarded annually to the nation's top collegiate kicker. Weber is the first Sun Devil to be named a finalist for the award, which is presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Weber is joined by Indiana's Austin Starr and UTEP's Jose Martinez as finalists. The Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award recognizes the top place-kicker in NCAA Division I-A football. Voters for the award include Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers, and previous Groza Award finalists.

Weber set a school record by making the first 17 field goal attempts of his career. The 17 straight field goals is also a school record. The Downey, Calif. native has connected on 95% of his field goals so far this season, making 19 of 20 tries, second in the nation among kickers with 10 attempts.His season long came against UCLA when he connected on a 53 yarder in the Sun Devils 24-20 victory. Weber also nailed the game-winning kick at Washington State on Oct. 6, giving the Sun Devils a 23-20 victory. Weber is majoring in Kinesiology and is contemplating a career in Physical Therapy.

The three finalists will be honored at the 16th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 4 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2007 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 6 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.

The award, now in its 16th year, is named for NFL Hall-of-Fame kicker Lou 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.Nicknamed "The Toe", Groza was one of the first people to truly make kicking an art form, and he helped usher in to football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.

For more information on the finalists please visit, including photographs and biographies, please visit http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Candidates/index.htm.