Borregales the first ’ Cane to win Lou Groza Award
Jose Borregales added to his list of accolades from his one season with the Miami Hurricanes as he was named the Lou Groza Award winner Thursday night for being college football’s top kicker.
Borregales is Miami’s first Lou Groza recipient and the Hurricanes’ first national award winner since tight end Kellen Winslow II won the John Mackey Award in 2003.
“It’s a tremendous honor for me,” Borregales told ESPN on the broadcast. “I put in a lot of work to be where I am today. I’m just happy it’s finally paying off.”
After transferring to UM from FIU, Borregales had already been named to the Football Writers Association of America ( FWAA) f i rst- t eam All- American and All- ACC first- team selection for his redshirt senior season.
Borregales made 20 of his 22 field- goal attempts in 2020 — with a long of 57 — plus all 37 of his extra- point attempts.
He beat out other finalists Jake Oldroyd of BYU and Will Reichard of Alabama for the Groza Award.
Borregales has already declared for the 2021 NFL draft as he paves the way for younger brother Andres Borregales, an incoming freshman from Hialeah Champagnat Catholic, to kick for the Hurricanes in 2021.
Miami’s Lou Hedley was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award for top college punter, but Georgia Tech’s Pressley Harvin won it on Thursday.
Last season, tight end Brevin Jordan was a finalist for the Mackey Award as a sophomore. Jordan declared for the 2021 draft on Thursday evening.