Lou Groza Award Winners

By The Associated Press
December 12, 2025 | 11:56 PM

Winners of the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission:

2025_Tate Sandell, Oklahoma

2024_Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana

2023_Graham Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)

2022_Christopher Dunn, North Carolina State.

2021_Jake Moody, Michigan

2020_Jose Borregales, Miami

2019_Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia

2018_Andre Szmyt, Syracuse

2017_Matt Gay, Utah

2016_Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State

2015_Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA

2014_Brad Craddock, Maryland

2013_Roberto Aguayo, Florida State

2012_Cairo Santos, Tulane

2011_Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

2010_Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State

2009_Kai Forbath, UCLA

2008_Graham Gano, Florida State

2007_Thomas Weber, Arizona State

2006_Arthur Carmody, Louisville

2005_Alexis Serna, Oregon State

2004_Mike Nugent, Ohio State

2003_Jonathan Nichols, Mississippi

2002_Nate Kaeding, Iowa

2001_Seth Marler, Tulane

2000_Jonathon Ruffin, Cincinnati

1999_Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State

1998_Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State

1997_Martin Gramatica, Kansas State

1996_Mark Primanti, North Carolina State

1995_Michael Reeder, Texas Christian

1994_Steve McLaughlin, Arizona

1993_Judd Davis, Florida

1992_Joe Allison, Memphis

NYPD says dozens rescued from human trafficking during World Cup

By WTOP Staff
July 23, 2026 | 2:09 PM

▶ Watch Video: Inside look at security preparations for World Cup Forty-three people, including seven minors, were rescued from human traffickers during the World Cup matches in the New York City area, according to the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit.The rescue operations were carried out between June 11 and July 19 by specialized NYPD detectives who arrested 89 individuals."The surprise was really the outpouring of support behind the mission and the collaboration with all our partners," said Inspector Gary Marcus, commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit.Those rescued, largely the victims of sex trafficking, are now being supported with an array of social services for the victims, including food, housing and counseling.The 87 operations carried out during the World Cup have generated new leads, officials said, and law enforcement agencies are building more cases based on the investigations already underway."We have ongoing investigations now as a result of these operations," an NYPD official told CBS News.Major sporting events are known to law enforcement as hotbeds of human trafficking.Years in advance, the NYPD devoted significant resources to preparing for the World Cup. Eight matches were played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, including the final on Sunday."When we talk about the outreach and the prep we do, a large part of that involved visiting the known sex offenders, particularly the known human traffickers, in our registry," Marcus said. "Whether they're on parole or probation for human trafficking, we visited them to make sure they're compliant with the terms of their release, and secondly, to let them know that the NYPD is watching."The matches were held in multiple cities around the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Preparations to secure those games and prepare for crimes like human trafficking were coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.Police departments in many locations that hosted World Cup matches have made arrests and rescues connected to human trafficking, including in Georgia, New England and Missouri. Nationally, there were more than 673 arrests on human-trafficking charges made during the World Cup, and 61 adults and 13 minors rescued, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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