Canes K Michael Badgley named to Lou Groza Award Watchlist

On Thursday morning, Michael Badgley was named to the Lou Groza Award Watchlist.

The 2016 Lou Groza Award Pre-Season Watch List is HERE!  Vote for your favorite athlete! https://t.co/UQGY4nvgA6 #CFBWatchMe #LouGrozaAward

— Lou Groza Award (@LouGrozaAward) July 7, 2016

This award, given annually to the Nation's best Kicker, is the premier award for placekicking at the collegiate level.

Badgley has a strong case for consideration. He was a semi-finalist for this same award in 2015 after a strong season for the Hurricanes. Badgley went 25 for 30 on FGs in2015, including a Hurricanes program-record tying 5 FGs vs Nebraska.

Having a kicker of Badgley's caliber is a weapon that few teams are able to claim. Hopefully, with more drives ending in TDs, his FG numbers may go down, but his percentage could increase. Badgley looks to improve his accuracy from range, after having gone 1-3 on kicks over 50 yards in 2015, making one from 57 yards, his career long.

Congratulations to Michael for this recognition. I'm sure we'll see him take and make plenty of clutch kicks in 2016.

Go Canes!