logo
Florida Gators kicker Trey Smack named to Lou Groza Award preseason watch list

Florida Gators kicker Trey Smack named to Lou Groza Award preseason watch list

USA Today4 days ago
The 2025 edition of the Lou Groza Award preseason watchlist is out, and one member of the Florida football program saw his name mentioned among the 30 student-athletes listed.
Senior kicker Trey Smack was named to the prestigious watch list for the second time in his collegiate career, also getting the call back in 2023 when he finished among the semifinalists. While he missed out in 2024, his performance last season was arguably better, playing in all 13 games while nailing 18 of 21 field goal attempts and remaining perfect in PATs for the second-straight season with 44 — giving him a total of 73 straight PATs over two years.
Smack has earned the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week award thrice (Week 12, 2024; Week 7, 2023; Week 4, 2023) and Lou Groza Star of the Week honors twice (Week 7, 2023; Week 4, 2023).
About the Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award — named after the NFL great who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns after serving in World War II — is presented each year to the best placekicker in college football. Groza was a nine-time all-pro player and won four AAFC championships and four NFL championships before retiring in 1967.
The qualifications for the award include inclusion among the 30 players on the preseason watch list, which is determined by a player's statistics from the previous season and their preseason expectations.
The 30-athlete watch list will be trimmed down to a group of 20 semifinalists on Nov. 18 by a selection committee. From that group of semifinalists, three finalists will be announced on Nov. 25, with the winner being selected on Dec. 12. Athletes are chosen to advance to the next round by a panel of more than 100 members, which consists of FBS head coaches, sports information directors, media members, former Groza finalists and current NFL kickers.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NFL analyst surprised by Kyren Williams contract with Rams
NFL analyst surprised by Kyren Williams contract with Rams

Yahoo

time2 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

NFL analyst surprised by Kyren Williams contract with Rams

The Los Angeles Rams retained running back Kyren Williams on a new three-year, $33 million extension with $23 million in guaranteed money ahead of the 2025 season. The deal keeps Williams on the team for now and gives the offense a lot more stability, especially after L.A. also kept Matthew Stafford, Alaric Jackson and Tutu Atwell. Much has been said and written about running back contracts, but NBC Sports' Chris Simms was surprised by what the Rams and Williams agreed upon — because he thinks Williams deserves more. "I thought it would be more than 11 [million] a year," Simms said. "I mean, where we are in the current status right now, running backs and all that, we know Saquon's king, we get why Christian McCaffrey is right up there with him and Derrick Henry at 15 million ... I'm surprised it's not kind of up by that. I am a little surprised. I feel like it's a little low. But hey, I'm if Kyren Williams is happy, I'm happy. And good for him to get that payday and get a little security there. And hopefully, he can see another payday in a few years." Williams' new deal makes him the seventh-highest paid running back in the NFL by average annual salary, and this is after he put together consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Rams. However, Simms seems to think he should be closer to the fourth-highest paid — Jonathan Taylor — who makes $14 million a year with the Indianapolis Colts. Williams is a huge part of what makes the Rams' offense work and he'd be hard to replace on a down-by-down basis with another running back or either backup (Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter). This looks, then, more like a team-friendly deal that Williams wanted to get done more than making a statement about his value relative to the rest of the position. Now, he and the Rams can focus on football and working toward another Super Bowl — something he didn't get to experience after being drafted the year after L.A. took home the Lombardi Trophy. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL analyst surprised by Kyren Williams contract with Rams

Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations
Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations

Yahoo

time2 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Dexter Lawrence set out to quiet the chatter minutes after the first practice of New York Giants training camp. The veteran defensive tackle had already challenged his fellow players not to listen to the outside noise. 'They want to talk about our D-line and all this,' Lawrence said, 'but we haven't done anything yet.' Linebacker Brian Burns shared the same thought process a few days later, with a little more profanity tossed in, acknowledging what the formidable front looks like on paper. And while adding No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter to a group already featuring Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux has the potential to make this an elite pass rush, those involved are quick to insist they need to prove it first. "Everything looks good with the names that we have and the potential and this and that," Burns said. 'It's all on us. We can take this as far as we want to go.' Teammate Darius Muasau called it 'the best D-line in the NFL right now," which is lofty praise that can get tossed out there in the dog days of summer with camps in full swing and before any meaningful games are played. Even the exhibition season might not be an indication of what the unit can do. That will get tested in September with the gauntlet of opening at NFC East rivals Washington and Dallas and at home against defending AFC champion Kansas City, followed by then Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Brian Daboll, among many others, is looking forward to seeing how Lawrence, free agent signing Roy Robertson-Harris, Thibodeaux, Burns and Carter handle hefty expectations. 'Hype doesn't get you anywhere,' Daboll said this week. 'Action does. So, whatever people think or they say, good or bad, the only thing that really matters is how we go about our business and ultimately producing when it matters.' Even tying for the worst record in the league last season at 3-14 — the 30th-ranked offense shouldered a bigger slice of that blame — only seven teams had more sacks than the Giants' 45. Lawrence set a career high with nine, Burns was next with 8 1/2 and Thibodeaux figures he should have had more than 5 1/2 with so many half-sacks part of his total. 'Probably would've been, you guys can do the math, maybe seven or eight if I were to finish those,' Thibodeaux said. 'Just making sure that I get everything I deserve this year.' Burns noticed a positive change in Thibodeaux at some point last season, which has continued into camp. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Wednesday he routinely shows clips of the 2022 No. 5 pick running to the ball as an example to other players. 'K.T. has impressed me about how he handles himself in the building,' Burns said. 'He gets in early (and) he does his thing. All in all, he flipped that switch last year, so I expect big things from K.T." The organization — and bettors — expect big things from Carter, too. He's a heavy favorite at less than 3-1 on BetMGM Sportsbook to be AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after 12 sacks in 16 games in his final college season at Penn State, during which he also led the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles for loss. 'He's going to be put in positions to succeed, and that's just due to the guys we have on the line,' Burns said. 'Me, Dex, K.T., he's going to have 1 on 1s. He's going to have opportunities to show what he can do.' Bowen, going into his second season running New York's defense, is putting the onus on himself and his staff to find ways to get impact players on the field in the correct situations. That might mean Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter all lining up on an obvious passing down to show what they all can do. 'We've got to make sure we do a good job of finding ways to utilize them,' Bowen said. 'To have three guys that can roll and play and do different things for us, it really opens up the creativity for us." Nabers says he's 'fine' After not participating in all of team drills at practice Wednesday, top receiver Malik Nabers said he was fine and called it part of the plan devised by coaches and trainers. Asked if it was about managing his lingering toe injury, the second-year pro said it was about everything. It's unclear how much, if any, Nabers will play in the preseason opener Saturday at Buffalo. Hudson leaves With standout left tackle Andrew Thomas still on the physically unable to perform list and rehabbing to return from surgery in October for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, James Hudson has been filling in that spot with the first-team offense. That is, until midway through practice Wednesday. Hudson left the field with training staff and did not return. Rookie Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick out of Purdue, took over in Hudson's absence. ___ AP NFL:

Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations
Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations

San Francisco Chronicle​

time4 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Giants' defensive line is determined to live up to the hype and high expectations

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Dexter Lawrence set out to quiet the chatter minutes after the first practice of New York Giants training camp. The veteran defensive tackle had already challenged his fellow players not to listen to the outside noise. 'They want to talk about our D-line and all this,' Lawrence said, 'but we haven't done anything yet.' Linebacker Brian Burns shared the same thought process a few days later, with a little more profanity tossed in, acknowledging what the formidable front looks like on paper. And while adding No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter to a group already featuring Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux has the potential to make this an elite pass rush, those involved are quick to insist they need to prove it first. "Everything looks good with the names that we have and the potential and this and that," Burns said. 'It's all on us. We can take this as far as we want to go.' Teammate Darius Muasau called it 'the best D-line in the NFL right now," which is lofty praise that can get tossed out there in the dog days of summer with camps in full swing and before any meaningful games are played. Even the exhibition season might not be an indication of what the unit can do. That will get tested in September with the gauntlet of opening at NFC East rivals Washington and Dallas and at home against defending AFC champion Kansas City, followed by then Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Coach Brian Daboll, among many others, is looking forward to seeing how Lawrence, free agent signing Roy Robertson-Harris, Thibodeaux, Burns and Carter handle hefty expectations. 'Hype doesn't get you anywhere,' Daboll said this week. 'Action does. So, whatever people think or they say, good or bad, the only thing that really matters is how we go about our business and ultimately producing when it matters.' Even tying for the worst record in the league last season at 3-14 — the 30th-ranked offense shouldered a bigger slice of that blame — only seven teams had more sacks than the Giants' 45. Lawrence set a career high with nine, Burns was next with 8 1/2 and Thibodeaux figures he should have had more than 5 1/2 with so many half-sacks part of his total. 'Probably would've been, you guys can do the math, maybe seven or eight if I were to finish those,' Thibodeaux said. 'Just making sure that I get everything I deserve this year.' Burns noticed a positive change in Thibodeaux at some point last season, which has continued into camp. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Wednesday he routinely shows clips of the 2022 No. 5 pick running to the ball as an example to other players. 'K.T. has impressed me about how he handles himself in the building,' Burns said. 'He gets in early (and) he does his thing. All in all, he flipped that switch last year, so I expect big things from K.T." The organization — and bettors — expect big things from Carter, too. He's a heavy favorite at less than 3-1 on BetMGM Sportsbook to be AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after 12 sacks in 16 games in his final college season at Penn State, during which he also led the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision in tackles for loss. 'He's going to be put in positions to succeed, and that's just due to the guys we have on the line,' Burns said. 'Me, Dex, K.T., he's going to have 1 on 1s. He's going to have opportunities to show what he can do.' Bowen, going into his second season running New York's defense, is putting the onus on himself and his staff to find ways to get impact players on the field in the correct situations. That might mean Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter all lining up on an obvious passing down to show what they all can do. 'We've got to make sure we do a good job of finding ways to utilize them,' Bowen said. 'To have three guys that can roll and play and do different things for us, it really opens up the creativity for us." Nabers says he's 'fine' After not participating in all of team drills at practice Wednesday, top receiver Malik Nabers said he was fine and called it part of the plan devised by coaches and trainers. Asked if it was about managing his lingering toe injury, the second-year pro said it was about everything. It's unclear how much, if any, Nabers will play in the preseason opener Saturday at Buffalo. Hudson leaves With standout left tackle Andrew Thomas still on the physically unable to perform list and rehabbing to return from surgery in October for a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, James Hudson has been filling in that spot with the first-team offense. That is, until midway through practice Wednesday. Hudson left the field with training staff and did not return. Rookie Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick out of Purdue, took over in Hudson's absence. ___

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store