MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State sophomore place kicker Matthew McCrane was one of 30 players nationally named to the watch list for the 2015 Lou Groza Award as nation’s top place kicker, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Thursday.

A native of Brownwood, Texas, McCrane is the ninth Wildcat to be a candidate for the award, including the third in the last four years, joining Anthony Cantele (2012 semifinalist) and Jack Cantele (2014 candidate). McCrane was also one of four Big 12 kickers on this year’s initial list, which included Ben Grogan (Oklahoma State), Josh Lambert (West Virginia) and Jaden Oberkrom (TCU).

Taking over primary place kicking duties in the fourth game of the 2014 season, McCrane went on to lead the nation by making 94.7-percent of his field-goal attempts (18-of-19) in addition to 41-of-42 extra-point attempts. He totaled 94 points on the year, shattering the K-State freshman record previously held by Martin Gramatica (56 in 1994), who went on to win the Lou Groza Award in 1997.

McCrane became the first freshman in school history to connect on a pair of 50-yard field goals, including a K-State freshman record 53-yarder against Oklahoma State. For his efforts in 2014, McCrane earned Honorable Mention All-America, Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 honors.

The Wildcats open their 120th season of football on Saturday, September 5, as K-State hosts South Dakota at 6:10 p.m.

— KSU Sports Information —