JONESBORO, Ark. (8/1/25) – Arkansas State junior kicker Clune Van Andel was named to the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Watch List as announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Friday.

Van Andel, the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, is one of just 30 kickers on the elite list for the award that goes to the top placekicker in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He is the sixth player in program history to appear on the watch list joining Jeff Caldwell (1994), Josh Arauco (2008, 2009), Brian Davis (2012, 2013), Blake Grupe (2019, 2020) and Dominic Zvada (2022, 2023).

The place-kicker in all 13 games last season, Van Andel finished the year 21-for-25 in field goal attempts, including a program-record 17 consecutive field goals made. He hit 7-of-9 from 40-plus yards and had a career-long of 52 yards against Georgia State. He was a perfect 33-for-33 in point-after attempts and tallied 96 points on the season, fourth-most in single season program history. He is a First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference pick and First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports. 

Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 18. The 34th Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 8 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935.

The Red Wolves are coming off back-to-back bowl appearances, including a win in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl against Bowling Green. A-State is among four FBS programs to increase its regular season win total every season since 2022.

Arkansas State will kick off its 2025 season at home on Aug. 30, when the Red Wolves host Southeast Missouri at 6:00 p.m. Season tickets may be purchased by calling the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401 or online by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets.