Aug. 12, 2005
ATLANTA–Sophomore placekicker Travis Bell, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicker Award last fall, has been tabbed to the award’s preseason watch list for 2005.
The Preseason Watch List is comprised of the top 30 preliminary candidates for the 14th annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl. The top three finalists are recognized during the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet and Silent Auction on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott and the winner is announced on Thursday, December 8, 2005 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show in Orlando, Florida.
Bell, from Roswell, Ga., is coming off an outstanding freshman season in which he earned second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as well as Freshman All-America recognition. He was also tabbed to the ACC All-Academic football team.
After joining the squad as a walk-on in 2003 and taking a redshirt year, Bell won the starting job for the 2004 campaign. He proceeded to set a school-record by making 15 consecutive field goals. He was 15-for-17 on the year–also a school-record for field goal percentage at .882–and was a perfect 31-for-31 on extra points to lead the team with 76 points.
Bell was recently named a preseason second-team all-America by Rivals.com.
The Groza Award Watch List also includes five kickers that Tech will face this season in Connor Barth of North Carolina, Brandon Pace of Virginia Tech, Connor Hughes of Virginia, Matt Nuzie of Connecticut and John Vaughn of Auburn. Click here for the complete list.
Along with Bell, Tech returns starting punter Ben Arndt, a senior from Young Harris, Ga., who averaged 38.5 yards per kick.
The kickoff job, however, is open as junior David Jordan competes with walk-ons Troy Garside and Mohamed Yahiaoui.
Senior Gavin Tarquinio takes over as long-snapper following the graduation of three-year starter Andrew Economos, who is now in camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Redshirt freshman Kyle Manley is working as the holder on placements.
Georgia Tech, which opens the season Sept. 3 at Auburn, continues preseason drills with a single workout Friday at 4:30 p.m. followed by a pair of practices Saturday, including a 5:30 p.m. scrimmage at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field. Practices are open to the public.
“We’ve put a lot in this week,and now when you bring it all together, you’re looking to see how much continuity there is,” said Tech head coach Chan Gailey of Saturday’s scrimmage. “We’re looking for continuity on offense, defense and special teams.”
Fans attending Saturday’s scrimmage should enter Bobby Dodd Stadium at Gate 9 on Techwood Drive and sit in the lower East stands.
