Texas Tech football's Stone Harrington named semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
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When Gino Garcia finished his eligibility with the Texas Tech football team at the end of last season, Tech coaches were uncertain enough about the kicker position that they signed two out of the NCAA transfer portal.
The Red Raiders‘ best option, though, turned out to be a kicker already on the team.
Stone Harrington has made 18 of 21 field goals, and on Tuesday, Nov. 18, he was among 20 semifinalists named for the Lou Groza Award, which is presented annually to the top kicker in college football. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior from Colleyville Heritage has made field goals of 58 yards at Utah, 55 yards at Kansas State and 53 yards in a home game last week against Central Florida.
“Technique and the strength staff’s done a really good job helping me get a lot stronger,” Harrington said recently. “I’ve gained 20 pounds since I got here, so it’s really helped me add distance to my kicks.”
Harrington didn’t get into a game in his first two years with the Red Raiders in 2022 and 2023, but he played in 6 games in 2024 and handled 13 kickoffs.
Last winter, Tech signed Upton Bellenfant, who made 18 field goals last year for the University at Buffalo, and after spring football, the Red Raiders added Ian Hershey from Arizona State.
Tech special teams coordinator Kenny Perry began the year using both Harrington and Bellenfant, and the two are 24-for-27 combined, including Bellenfant’s 6-for-6. However, Harrington has handled all field goals for the past four games, and Perry said he’s won the job. He’s made 10 field goals in a row, going 3 for 3 at Kansas State, 5 for 5 against Brigham Young, and 2-for-2 against UCF.
Harrington’s 18 field goals are fifth-most on the Tech single-season list.
Three Groza Award finalists will be announced on Nov. 25, and the winner will be named on Dec. 12.
Georgia junior Peyton Woodring is a semifinalist for the third year in a row. Ole Miss junior Lucas Carneiro, Miami (Ohio) senior Dom Dzioban and Kansas senior Laith Marjan all made the cut for the second year in a row, and Florida senior Trey Smack was a semifinalist in 2023.
Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa and Georgia Tech’s Aidan Birr have each made 22 field goals, Carneiro and Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell have both hit 21, and LSU’s Damian Ramos and Connecticut’s Chris Freeman have each made 20.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football’s Stone Harrington a Lou Groza Award semifinalist
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