Missouri freshman Harrison Mevis celebrates after a field goal against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. Mevis was one of 20 national semi-finalists for the Lou Groza Award. Photo courtesy Zach Bland, Mizzou Athletics

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Not too shabby for a freshman.

Harrison Mevis spent his senior season at Warsaw Community High School under the spotlight. And with that light fully burning bright in the SEC, Mevis isn’t flinching in his newfound stardom. The freshman at the University of Missouri has elevated himself into one of the top kickers in the country, and recently earned a pair of awards worthy of the status.

Mevis was one of 20 kickers from around Division I college football to be named as a Lou Groza Award semi-finalist. The award is given annually to the top kicker in the country, and Mevis was one of just five kickers among the lot to hit at least 15 kicks this season. His list of accomplishments are just getting started.

Named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week on Dec. 7, Mevis was fresh off nailing five field goals and five extra points, his final field goal from 32 yards with no time remaining helping the Tigers to a 50-48 win over Arkansas. He earlier hit a 51-yarder, one yard off his season high of 52 which he made against LSU.

Mevis is 17-20 in field goals this season in addition to making all 28 of his extra point tries for the Tigers. Mevis, who was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team, has helped the Tigers to a 5-5 record and a date in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 against No. 15 Iowa.

Ranked the No. 2 kicker in the country as a senior at Warsaw, Mevis was an Under Armour All-American as a high school senior. While he is well-known at home, he also received a popular vote of confidence in the Lou Groza Award fan vote, earning the most votes of any of the 20 kickers. His 5.482 votes (as of Dec. 22) were the most, leading BYU’s Jake Oldroyd (5,187), Georgia’s Jack Podlesny (1,574) and Alabama’s Will Reichard (1,215).

The Lou Groza Award finalists were named on Tuesday, and Mevis did not make the cut. The three finalists were Oldroyd, Reichard and Miami’s Jose Borregales.