South Carolina football: Parker White named to Lou Groza award watchlist

South Carolina football player Parker White is one of 30 kickers named to the Lou Groza award watchlist.

Gamecock place kicker Parker White was named to the 2020 Lou Groza award watchlist on Wednesday. The rising senior is one of 30 players to earn the honor, which is given annually to the nation’s top kicker. The coveted award has been in existence since 1992.

Past recipients include Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn, Florida State’s Roberto Aguayo, Ohio State’s Mike Nugent, Iowa’s Nate Kaeding, and Kansas State’s Martin Gramatica. Former Seminole kicker Sebastian Janikowski is the only player to have the honor of winning the award twice, going back-to-back in ’98 and ’99.

This year’s exclusive lineup consists of headliners Nick Sciba (Wake Forest), Matthew Trickett (Kent State), and Cade York (LSU).

For White to have a shot to win, he’ll need to keep up the consistency he’s shown over the past two seasons. After a shaky freshman year, one where he was probably asked to do too much too early, he’s been spectacular.

In that time, White’s made more than 81% of his field goal attempts, having gone 31-for-38 over his sophomore and junior years. Last season was his best, as he made 18 kicks, going a near perfect 17-of-18 from inside of 50 yards. He also drilled a career-long 50-yarder in the Gamecocks’ matchup with Appalachian State. The Mt. Pleasant native finished fourth in the SEC in field goals made.

White has connected on five game-winning kicks over his career, two as a freshman against Louisiana Tech and Tennessee, two as a sophomore versus Missouri and Tennessee, again, and once as a junior in last season’s upset win over Georgia.

For his career, the 6’5” kicker has gone 45-for-63, including a remarkable 32-for-35 on kicks inside of 40 yards. He currently ranks fifth on the Gamecocks’ all-time scoring list, and fourth in field goals made. He’s also been successful on 96 of his 97 career extra point attempts.