Fred Mitchell Award finalists announced
The top 10 finalists for the 2024 Fred Mitchell Award have been announced by co-chairmen Rob Perry and Matt Cotiguala.
In alphabetical order, the finalists are Chris Campos from Stephen F. Austin, Christian Casillas (College of DuPage), Johan Edwards (Evangel University), Dieter Kelley (College of San Mateo), Gabe Panikowski (Idaho State), DC Pippin (Southeast Missouri State), Hunter Ridley (UC Davis), Zach Schreiner (Sacramento State), Seth Simpson (Baker University) and Mathias Uribe (Portland State).
The winner of the award will be announced next week when Fred Mitchell appears on WSCR-AM 670 during the Mully & Haugh morning sports talk radio show in Chicago. The trophy will be presented to the winner on Feb. 17, 2025 during the annual National Football Foundation Chicago Chapter ceremony at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Il.
The award recognizes exceptional placekicking and community service. The selection committee is comprised of former NFL and college kickers, previous award winners, as well as prominent businessmen and community-minded individuals.
Selection Committee
Luis Aguilar: 2019 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Northern Arizona University
Roldan Alcobendas: 2018 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Eastern Washington University
Carl Allegretti: NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amatuer Football Award, NFF Board Member, played football at Butler University
Patrick Arbor: Former chairman of the Chicago Board of Trade, prominent philanthropist, community supporter and worldwide traveler; longtime trustee for his alma mater, Loyola University
Tom Beck: College Football Hall of Fame Head Coach, National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Board Member
Kevin Butler: College Football Hall of Fame kicker from University of Georgia, NFL kicker for Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals
Sergio Castillo: 2013 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from West Texas A&M University, NFL and CFL kicker
Matt Cotiguala: 2015 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from St. Ambrose University
Matt Davis: 2016 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Sean Gothier: National Football Foundation Minnesota Chapter Founder & Board Member, vrbo Citrus Bowl Team Selection Committee
Teddy Greenstein: Former Chicago Tribune sportswriter and former Heisman Trophy voter
Chris Husby: Special Teams Football Academy owner focusing on kicking, punting and snapping
Mike Husted: NFL kicker for 9 seasons and at the University of Virginia, Founder of National Camp Series network of kicking coaches
Brian Jackson: Arena Football League and Ball State University kicker, Founder and Director of National Kicking Rankings camps
Dan Jiggetts: Ivy League Hall of Famer, co-captain at Harvard, Chicago Bears offensive lineman, NFF Chicago Metro Chapter Board Member
Chris Kearney: NFF Chicago Metro Chapter Board President, vrbo Citrus Bowl Team Selection Committee
Conrad “Connie” Kowal: Sports marketing executive formerly with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Cubs
Greg Loberg: Partner at Loberg & Associates
Nick Lowery: Inducted into Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame as kicker, Dartmouth College kicker
Tom Lynch: 2011 and 2010 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Saint Xavier University, kicked for 2011 NAIA National Champions
Steve McMichael: College Football Hall of Famer from University of Texas including briefly as kicker, NFL with Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers
Jeff Michalczyk: Received NFF St. Louis Chapter Scholar-Athlete Award, played linebacker at Drake University
Fred Mitchell: Wittenberg University Hall of Fame kicker, American Kicking Hall of Famer, AFA Minor League Football Hall of Famer
Mark Murphy: Green Bay Packers President, Team Captain on Washington Redskins Super Bowl teams in 1983 and 1984
Patrick Murray: 2012 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Fordham University, NFL kicker for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns
Tom Obarski: 2014 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Concordia University St. Paul
Rob Perry: Fred Mitchell Award Selection Committee Chairman, vrbo Citrus Bowl Team Selection Committee
Don Pierson: Retired Chicago Tribune pro football sportswriter, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame writers’ wing
Dan Pompei: Award-winning sportswriter with The Athletic, member of writer’s wing of Pro Football Hall of Fame
Ethan Ratke: 2021 winner of the Fred Mitchell Award from James Madison University, consensus All-American who kicked more field goals during his career (101) than any kicker at any division
Jeff Schebler: 2009 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, DIII National Champion, 4 time All-American
Bob Thomas: NCAA Silver Award recipient at Notre Dame, made the winning FG to win 1974 National Championship, 12 years in NFL
Wolfe Tone: National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Board Member, was Herky Hawkeye mascot at University of Iowa
Cole Tracy: 2017 Fred Mitchell Award recipient from Assumption College, 2018 Lou Groza Award Finalist at Louisiana State University
Todd Wilkins: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater kicker including for conference championship teams in the late 1980s
Gary Zauner: University of Wisconsin-LaCross kicker, NFL and College Kicking Consultant, Special Teams Coach for 13 years in the NFL
Rob Zvonar: Head Coach at Lincoln-Way East High School including multiple Illinois State Championships, coached 2007 US Army All-American Bowl
Past Winners
2023 — Landon Reeves
2022 — Ethan Gettman
2021 — Ethan Ratke
2019 — Luis Aguilar
2018 — Roldan Alcobendas
2017 — Cole Tracy
2016 — Matt Davis
2015 — Matt Cotiguala
2014 — Tom Obarski
2013 — Sergio Castillo
2012 — Patrick Murray
2011 — Tom Lynch
2010 — Tom Lynch
2009 — Jeff Schebler
