TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: Ranvier name to Groza Watch List
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Tennessee junior kicker Cooper Ranvier is one of 35 players who have been named to the 2026 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award watch list, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced.
Ranvier is one of 11 kickers from the SEC who made the initial list. The Lexington, Kentucky, native transferred to Tennessee from Louisville in January. Ranvier was a third-team All-ACC selection last year, connecting on 21-of-25 field goal attempts (84 percent), while going 39-of-41 on PATs. He was 6-of-7 on field goal attempts from 40 to 49 yards.
Including the 2026 season, he owns three seasons of remaining eligibility.
Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, Nov. 17. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers select the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, Nov. 24. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 10 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The 35th 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 banquet gala on Dec. 7 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.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel Dodd Trophy Watch ListRB DeSean Bishop Maxwell Award Watch ListAll-SEC Second Team (Athlon)All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000LS Bennett Brady Mannelly Award Watch ListAll-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)LB Amare Campbell All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000LB Arion Carter Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch ListAll-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000TE Ethan Davis John Mackey Award Preseason Watch ListAll-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000DL Xavier Gilliam All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)OL Donovan Haslam East-West Shrine Bowl 1000DL Daevin Hobbs All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)DB Kayin Lee East-West Shrine Bowl 1000WR Mike Matthews All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000DB TJ Metcalf East-West Shrine Bowl 1000OL Wendell Moe Jr. Outland Trophy Watch ListWalter Camp All-America Second TeamAthlon All-America Third TeamAll-SEC First Team (Athlon)All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)East-West Shrine Bowl 1000DB Qua Moss East-West Shrine Bowl 1000OL Jesse Perry All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)DB Ty Redmond Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch ListAthlon All-America Fourth TeamAll-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)P Jackson Ross East-West Shrine Bowl 1000OL David Sanders Jr. All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)All-SEC Third Team (Media)LB Edwin Spillman AFCA Allstate Good Works Team NomineeWR Braylon Staley All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)LB Jeremiah Telander East-West Shrine Bowl 1000OL Shamurad Umarov East-West Shrine Bowl 1000PK Cooper Ranvier Lou Groza Watch List
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