Ottawa’s Reeves 2023 Fred Mitchell Award winner
The Fred Mitchell Outstanding Placekicker Award is proud to announce Landon Reeves as the most outstanding placekicker for his excellence on the football field for the 2023 season, and for continued community service during his collegiate career.
“Landon Reeves has emerged as the winner of the 2023 Fred Mitchell Award after one of the most highly-contested balloting for the national honor,” Mitchell said. “Reeves’ exceptional kicking performances and dedicated commitment to community service make him a worthy recipient in the eyes of our Selection Committee. We look forward to recognizing Landon’s accomplishment in Chicago at the National Football Foundation award ceremony in February.”
In learning of his selection as the 2023 recipient, Reeves said, “I am in shock. Personally, for me, I think everyone has ups and downs, especially in any position you play in any sport. For me, I’ve just been very grateful for the people that have been around me, especially for the community where I grew up in Idalou, Texas. Just very grateful that they’ve always had my back no matter what.”
Reeves’ coach at Ottawa was Mike Nesbitt, who previously coached 2013 Fred Mitchell Award winner Sergio Castillo at West Texas A&M.
“When you want to talk about a guy that can be the face of your program, Landon has always done that for us,” Nesbitt said. “He was part of one of our second recruiting classes that we’ve ever had here at Ottawa since we started the university here seven years ago. We were lucky enough to get him to come out here to one of our summer camps, and he came out, and he kicked fantastic. We knew right then coming out of high school that he was going to be a guy that we wanted to offer and bring into our football program, and so we were really fortunate.”
LANDON REEVES
Ottawa University of Arizona – NAIA
FG: 14-15 | FG%: 93% | 1-19: 0-0 | 20-29: 5-6 | 30-39: 6-6 | 40-49: 3-3 | 50+: 0-0 | LONG: 45 | PAT: 63-64 | POINTS: 105
Senior from Idalou, Texas, over the past four years Landon has shown a strong determination and willingness to commit to his team and community on and off the field. His performance on the field has helped OUAZ remain one of the top 25 nationally ranked NAIA football teams and earn several conference championships. Individually, he has built a reputation as one of the best kicking specialists in the southwest. Landon is leading the country in scoring and FG percentage and has won many games this season with his Kickoff average (57.0 on 74 kicks). He has had several games with multiple field goals and been a consistent leader on and off the field. Landon’s passion for community service projects and getting involved in Surprise, the Phoenix metro area, and in his hometown of Idalou, Texas, would garner him all-star status. His annual efforts include Assistant Coach for Recreational Soccer; Community can food drive; Church Camp Counselor Soul Quest; Provided labor for a local elementary school laying mulch; Community library cleaning; Habitat for Humanity; Reading to patients in a Children’s Hospital; and Meals on Wheels. Landon also gives his time as needed or when the opportunity arises to include counseling, kicking lessons, food banks, and public beautification.
