Pac-10 Notes and News

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The opening of fall practice is around the corner for college football teams across the nation. Before the season kicks off we want to make sure you know how the various units across the Pac-10 compare and which ones are special.

With the clock ticking down in a game where the other team has an edge of three or less and your team crosses the fifty you know what you are doing: Scouring the sideline trying to see if your guy looks ready to trot on the field and knock a kick through the uprights. Here is our look at the guys in the Pac-10 who you want on your team in moments like these.

Lou Groza winners

At the top of the Pac-10 kicker hill is not just one, but two former Lou Groza Award winners. UCLA and Arizona State may be battling to stay out of the cellar in 2010, but it will not be because of the play of their respective kickers.

The Bruins have the 2009 Groza winner, Kai Forbath, as their field goal go-to-guy. Forbath led the league last season, connecting on 90 percent of his 31 kicks. A first-team All-American across the board last season underscores his spot as the guy at the top of the heap nationally as well.

The Sun Devils employ the services of Thomas Weber who was honored with the Groza as a freshman in 2007. He followed his great freshman year with a steady sophomore campaign, but last season a pulled groin cost him significant time. Look for Weber to bounce back this coming season.

When the season comes to an end these two will lead the battle for Pac-10 field goal honors, and one of them may even have his second Groza honor.

Watch out for…

Justin Kahut has been the Oregon State placekicker for the past two seasons. He went from being a 62 percent field goal kicker in 2008 to an 82 percent guy last season. Kahut boasts a strong leg and nailed a 50-yarder last season. Twice he had games where he made four field goals.  

The Huskies of Washington will rely on the leg of Erik Folk again this year. Only Forbath was better last season, as Kahut connected on 18-of-21 attempts for an 86 percent field goal percentage.

The rest

The only other kicker near 80 percent in 2009 was Arizona's Alex Zandejas. Zandejas, who connected on 17-of-22 attempts for a 77 percent rate. Zendejas has the pedigree for kicking, but needs to show the consistency he displayed late in the season to not face a challenge for his job.

Stanford kicker, Nate Whitaker, has power coming through the ball, which was displayed on his 54 yarder against Wake Forest last season. Whitaker also has shown an ability to get the ball to the end zone on kickoffs to give the Cardinal a field position advantage.

The rest of the returning kickers in the league will have to prove their abilities with more attempts before an opinion can be formed on their abilities.

An even better opportunity for any of these guys to prove their value will come on third down with three ticks left on the clock, the ball is on the twenty-eight yard line and your school needs three points. Do you see a guy in your team’s uniform that looks like he will get the job done?