WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Kansas redshirt senior kicker Laith Marjan was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Tuesday. Presented by the Orange Bowl, the Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in college football.
Marjan, of Raleigh, N.C., has had a strong season for the Jayhawks, converting on 14-of-15 field goals, including 8-of-8 from beyond 40 yards, while connecting on 35-of-35 PAT’s this season. Marjan broke the Kansas school record for most consecutive field goals made in a season, converting 14-straight to break the record of 11 set by Dodge Schwartzburg set in 1984.
Over his career, Marjan is one of the steadiest kickers in college football, making 30-of-32 field goal attempts. His career field goal percentage of 93.8% ranks fifth among active FBS kickers, while he is the only player in FBS with a 93% field goal percentage on at least 30 career attempts.
Marjan’s career long of 55 yards came against Texas Tech earlier this season, which is tied for the sixth longest field goal in school history.
Marjan is now a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the second straight season and is one of five kickers to make a repeat appearance as a semifinalist. Marjan was previously a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2024 while at South Alabama.
Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on November 25th and honored at the 34th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 8th in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Friday, December 12th.
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.