Texas Tech Junior Kicker Ryan Bustin Selected as a Semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award

The Texas Tech Red Raider's kicker Ryan Bustin has accomplished something that no other Texas Tech kicker has done before.  Bustin was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award which honors the nation's top placekicker on Monday.

The award is named in honor of one of the all-time great kickers in football history, Lou Groza.  Groza played 21 seasons for the Cleveland Browns setting numerous franchise records, including most games played, most points scored, and an amazing 107 consecutive games in which he scored a point. Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

He is the first player in school history to be named a semifinalist for the award that began honoring collegiate placekickers in 1992. Bustin joins two other players from the Big 12 Conference on the list, in Texas' Anthony Fera and Oklahoma's Michael Hunnicutt.

On the year, Ryan has been close to perfect for head coach Kliff Kingsbury.  His statistics look like this, 41-for-41 this season in PATs and 100-for-100 in his career.  The 100 consecutive successful PATs ranks fifth nationally.  He currently leads the FBS with 19 field goals, which is also a new Texas Tech record for the most in a single-season and his 98 total points this season leads all kickers in the FBS.  The winner will be announced live on ESPN at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 12th.