Ito has been one of the most consistent kickers in the nation this season, connecting on 11-of-14 field goal attempts, including two from 50-plus yards. Ito shares the Rutgers career record for field goals with 46.
The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be announced on Monday, November 20 and will be honored at the 15th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on Tuesday, December 5 at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. The 2006 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award winner will be announced on Thursday, December 7during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Fla.
The award is named for NFL Hall-of-Fame kicker Lou 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. Nicknamed "The Toe," Groza was one of the first people to truly make kicking an art form, and he helped usher in to football the idea that a player could be used exclusively for kicking.