Florida football preseason awards tracker, transfer K makes Groza Award list

Florida football kicker Patrick Durkin has been named to the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list, given annually to college football's top kicker.

A transfer from Tulane, Durkin connected on 25-of-28 field goal attempts (89.3%) for the Gree Wave last season and 41-of-42 extra points.

Durkin’s 89.3% field goal accuracy is the second best among returnees who made at least 20 field goals is the FBS last season. His 25 field goals is tied for second most among returning FBS kickers.

Durkin connected on three field goals during the Florida Gators spring game at The Swamp last April but missed a 49-yard attempt as time expired.

"He’s just getting comfortable and had a great season last year," Florida special teams coach Johnathan Galante said. "He transitions now to a whole new town, a whole new city, a whole new environment, higher level. And he did well. He finished better than he started spring ball and in the position he’s in right now, I’m very excited where he’s at."

The Lou Groza Award is named for Pro Football 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. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Groza Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Nov. 17. From that list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers select the top three finalists for the award, announced on Nov. 24. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Dec. 10 during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Florida football C Harrison Moore named to Rimington Watch list

Floridajunior center Harrison Moore has been named to the Rimington Trophy watch list, an award given to college football's top center.

A transfer from Georgia Tech, the 6-foot-4, 293-pound Moore appeared in 11 games and made eight starts for the Yellow Jackets in 2025. Moore helped anchor an offensive line that allowed just nine sacks (0.69 per game) during the season.

Moore is projected to replace former UF center Jake Slaughter, a two-time All-American and two-time Rimington Award finalist in 2024 and 2025. Slaughter was taken in the second round by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2026 NFL draft.

Florida football RB Jadan Baugh named to Maxwell Award list

Florida footbll running back Jadan Baugh was named as one of 81 players on the Maxwell Award preseason watch list.

The award is given to the most outstanding player in college football. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the Maxwell Award in 2025.

The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Baugh is vying to become the SEC's leading rusher this season after ranking third in the conference with 1,170 yards rushing and 8 TDs for the Florida Gators last season. He also added 21 catches for 185 yards and two receiving TDs for UF in 2025.

In UF's 2025 season finale against Florida State, Baugh ran for 266 yards, the second-most in a game in program history behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, who rushed for 316 yards and 3 TDs against New Mexico on Oct. 21, 1989. With the performance against FSU, Baugh became the 10th UF running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season and first since Kelvin Taylor in 2015.

The Maxwell Award list will narrow down to a group of semifinalists on Nov. 10, and then the three finalists will be unveiled on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s  Florida  beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football preseason awards tracker, transfer K makes Groza Award list

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