LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas redshirt senior kicker Laith Marjan was named to the 2025 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Thursday.
Marjan is one of 30 individuals named to the preseason watch list and is one of six representatives from the Big 12 Conference. Marjan was previously named to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Big 12 team as a second team selection.
Marjan was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2024 while at South Alabama, connecting on 16-of-17 on field goals and 42-of-44 on extra points. Marjan hit a season-long 49-yard field goal at No. 14 LSU on Sept. 28.
In 2024, Marjan was 6-of-6 from 40-49 yards, 6-of-6 from 30-39 yards and 4-of-4 from 20-29 yards, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors while at South Alabama. Marjan began his career at East Carolina from 2022-24.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 18th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 25th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Friday, December 12th during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 34th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 8th in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” 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. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.
For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the “Stars of the Week” throughout the season, please go to www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter.