Borregales Tabbed a Semifinalist for 2023 Lou Groza Award

University of Miami kicker Andres Borregales has been named a semifinalist for the 2023 Lou Groza Award, which recognizes the nation’s top placekicker, according to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s announcement on Thursday morning. This nomination marks the second consecutive semifinalist selection for Borregales for the Lou Groza Award; he was also nominated during the 2022 season.

Throughout his three-year career at the University of Miami, Borregales has established himself as one of the top kickers in the FBS. In 2023, he boasts an impressive 89.8% conversion rate on field goal attempts, converting 17 out of 19 attempts. His only two misses came on kicks from 54 and 45 yards.

Borregales received the ACC Specialist of the Week honor on October 30th. Notably, he is the only kicker in the current season to have successfully converted three field goal attempts from 45 yards or longer in a single game. This remarkable achievement occurred during a 29-26 overtime road victory against the Virginia Cavaliers on October 28th.

In addition to his outstanding field goal accuracy, Borregales has recorded 35 touchbacks on 52 kickoffs this season. The Miami native has successfully connected on 51 of his 60 career field goal attempts, achieving an impressive 85.0% success rate. This accomplishment ranks him as the second-most accurate among kickers in the nation with at least 50 career attempts.

It’s worth mentioning that Borregales’ older brother, Jose, is the sole Lou Groza Award winner in the football program’s history, having claimed the award in 2020 as the nation’s top placekicker.

The Lou Groza Award is named in honor of NFL Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza’s legacy includes four NFL championships with Cleveland and being named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. He played a pivotal role in establishing the importance of kickers on NFL rosters, even though he was also an All-Pro offensive lineman.

Since the inception of the Lou Groza Award in 1992, 28 finalists, including 16 winners, have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL. They have earned 13 Pro Bowl selections and have won 7 Super Bowls.