WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Louisiana Tech redshirt sophomore Jonathan Barnes was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2015 Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award presented by the Orange Bowl, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Thursday.

Barnes was recognized as one of the 20 top kickers in the country as he ranks second in the nation in points scored (90) and points per game (10.0) among kickers while ranking tied for fifth in the nation in points scored (90) and 20th in points per game (10.0) among all players.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was named one of three Lou Groza Stars of the Week following Louisiana Tech's triple overtime game at Kansas State where he forced overtime with his game-tying 45-yard field goal as regulation expired. That was one of his four field goals in that game, a number that is fourth-best for a single game in the country this year and second-best all-time at Louisiana Tech.

He set a new career-long mark with a 50-yard field goal on Oct. 3 during Louisiana Tech's 43-14 rout of Louisiana-Lafayette. Tech's kicker has converted a field goal in every game this season except during the Bulldogs' 42-17 win at Rice when he was not needed after LA Tech scored 28 unanswered points over the second and third quarters to run away with the win.

Barnes further proved his mettle at UTSA as he hit a game-winning 32-yard field goal with 10 seconds left. He has converted 84.2 percent of his attempts, ranking 22nd in the country, while his 1.78 field goals made per game ranks seventh in the nation. Of the 20 semifinalists, only Boise State's Tyler Rausa (93 points) has scored more points than Barnes this season.

The Bulldog kicker played his way into the list of 20 semifinalists as he was not a member of the Lou Groza Award Watch List prior to the beginning of the season. Phil Steele listed him as Conference USA's fourth team kicker on his preseason all-conference teams.

Barnes is one of three C-USA kickers listed among the semifinalists along with Marshall's Nick Smith and Western Kentucky's Garrett Schwettman. He leads the conference in field goals made per game (1.78) and in points scored (90) while his average of 10.0 points per game is second only to teammate Kenneth Dixon (12.0) among C-USA players.

Proving how difficult consistency can be in the kicking game, just six of the semifinalists have earned the honor before. Florida State junior Roberto Aguayo, who won the award in 2013, and Utah junior Andy Phillips have made it in each of their three seasons, while Duke senior Ross Martin and TCU senior Jaden Oberkrom were each semifinalists in 2014 and 2012 as well. Making the list for the second time are Memphis junior Jake Elliott (2013) and Cincinnati sophomore Andrew Gantz (2014).

Semifinalists will be voted on by FBS Head Coaches and SIDs, a panel of kicking experts including all previous Groza finalists, and national and regional football writers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on Nov. 24 and honored at the 24th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on Dec. 7 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 10.

The award is named in honor of one of the all-time great kickers in football history, Lou Groza. Groza played 21 seasons for the Cleveland Browns setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 20 finalists, including 11 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning eight trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home five Super Bowls. That list includes current NFL kickers Dan Bailey, Mason Crosby, Kai Forbath, Graham Gano, Dustin Hopkins, Sebastian Janikowski, Mike Nugent, Cairo Santos, Caleb Sturgis, and Blair Walsh.

For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please visit LouGrozaAward.com, or follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter for updates as they happen. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Kris Pursell, Director of Event Operations at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-3124 or kpursell@palmbeachsports.com.

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