Thomas Weber named to Lou Groza Award watch list

Arizona State University sophomore kicker Thomas Weber has been named to the Watch List for the 2008 Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation's best kicker.

Weber, who last year became the first freshman to ever win the Groza Award, comes off one of the best seasons for a kicker in ASU history. He made 24 of his 25 field goal attempts, including a school-record 17 straight to begin the season, and he tied the single-season school record with 118 points. He was named a First-Team AP All-American and earned First-Team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors.

Weber has already received numerous preseason accolades for 2008, as he was selected to the Playboy Magazine All-American team, and The Sporting News, Athlon Sports and Lindy's named him a Preseason First-Team All-American.

The field for the Groza Award will be narrowed to 20 semi-finalists on Nov. 11. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the three finalists for the award by Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner, which will be announced on Dec. 11 during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show, broadcast live from Orlando, Fla.

The three finalists will be recognized during an early week celebration in Palm Beach County culminating with a gala awards banquet on Dec. 9 prior to joining ESPN in Orlando.