Charles Campbell Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Thursday morning that Tennessee redshirt senior placekicker Charles Camp-bell is one of 20 semifi nalists for the 2023 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl. The Jackson, Tennessee, native is one of six kick-ers from the Southeastern Confer-ence to be tabbed a semifi nalist for the award designated for the most outstanding placekicker in college football.In his sixth year at the FBS level and fi rst season at Tennes-see, Campbell has connected on 15-of-17 (88.2 percent) fi eld goal attempts this fall and is a perfect 36-for-36 on PATs. His 81 points scored in 2023 rank fi fth in the SEC and 16th nationally, while his 36 made PATs without a miss are the third-most in the conference and tied for 13th-most in the country.His top performance of the season came in a gritty 33-27 victory at Kentucky, where Camp-bell was a perfect 4-for-4 on fi eld goals and 3-for-3 on PATs, tying career highs in made FGs and points scored (15). The veteran graduate transfer nailed a season-long 49-yarder in the fi rst half against the Wildcats and went on to be named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in Lexington.Prior to returning to his home state for his sixth and fi nal season of college football, Campbell was a three-year starter at Indiana. He ranked No. 8 in IU history in career fi eld goals made (39), No. 13 in career points (190) and No. 9 in career extra points (73). His 109 consecutive made PATs is the fi fth-longest active streak in the FBS.Campbell is the sixth Tennessee player to be named a semifi nalist for the Lou Groza Award, joining Brent Cimaglia (2019), Daniel Lincoln (2007), James Wilhoit (2006), Alex Walls (2000) and Jeff Hall (1995). Walls is the only Vol to be selected as a fi nalist for college football’s top kicking honor, receiving the accolade in 2000.Semifi nalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza fi nalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three fi nalists. These fi nal-ists will be announced on November 28th and honored at the 32nd annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Awards Banquet on December 4th in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, December 8th.