Redshirt sophomore kicker Emmit Carpenter has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, a national award presented annually to the best placekicker in college football. Carpenter is one of three Big Ten kickers named to the list of semifinalists, with Penn State’s Tyler Davis and Ohio State’s Tyler Durbin also on the list.
Through the first eight games of the season and in his first season as the starting placekicker, Carpenter is 13-of-15, and started the year with nine consecutive made field goals before missing a 36-yarder against Maryland. His 28-yard field goal in the closing seconds against Rutgers a couple weeks ago was the game-winner in a 34-32 victory for the Gophers.