Pitt’s Ben Sauls Named to Groza Award Watch List

PITTSBURGH—Pitt's Ben Sauls, whose 47-yard field goal lifted the Panthers to a dramatic 37-35 win over UCLA in the 2022 Sun Bowl, has been named a preseason candidate for the prestigious Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented annually to the top college football place-kicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

Sauls is one of 30 kickers named to the Groza watch list announced today. He enters his redshirt junior season coming off the finest campaign of his career.

Ben Sauls Groza Watch List

Last season Sauls converted 20-of-24 field goals (83%) and each of his 47 PATs for 107 points, the third-highest kick scoring total in a season at Pitt. He made 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts, the lone miss coming from 54 yards.

In addition to his scoring prowess, Sauls also was a defensive weapon last season as a kickoff specialist, averaging 62.4 yards on 80 kickoffs with 57 touchbacks (71%).

His most memorable moment came in the Sun Bowl, when he converted each of his seven placements (five field goals and two PATs) in windy conditions, including the game-winner with just four seconds left.

Named the John Folmer Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP, he set Sun Bowl records for field goals made (five) and kick scoring (17 points), breaking marks originally set by Nebraska's Paul Rogers in 1969 (four field goals, 15 points).

Sauls and the Panthers open training camp today at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

The 2023 winner of the Groza Award will be announced on ESPN's live telecast of The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 7.

Pitt Players on Preseason Watch Lists:

Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year): Quarterback Phil Jurkovec

Outland Trophy (Interior Lineman): Offensive Tackle Matt Goncalves

Lou Groza Award (Place-kicker): Place-kicker Ben Sauls

National College Football Awards Association Watch List Calendar:

Mon., July 31: Maxwell Award

Tue., Aug. 1: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Wed., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award

Thu., Aug. 3: Paul Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy

Fri., Aug. 4: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy