Nevada’s Brandon Talton makes preseason watch list for Lou Groza Award

Nevada placekicker Brandon Talton was one of two Mountain West kickers to earn preseason honors for the Lou Groza award, annually given out to the nation’s best placekicker, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced Wednesday. The other Mountain West placekicker was Wyoming’s John Hoyland, who led the nation in field goals made per game (2.2) as a freshman last season.

Talton made the All-Mountain West first team in 2019 and the All-Mountain West second team last year. In 2020, Talton led the Mountain West in made field goals (15) and placed third in field goal percentage (83.3 percent) — trailing Boise State’s Jonah Dalmas (87.5) and Hoyland (92.9) for the conference’s top marks.

Talton has earned All-Mountain West preseason honors from the conference itself (first team), Phil Steele (first team), and Pro Football Focus (third team).