Northern Illinois University kicker John Richardson is the latest Huskie added to a 2022 preseason watch list as the junior from Orland Park, Illinois (Brother Rice HS) was named to the Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Watch List announced by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Wednesday.
Richardson is one of just 30 kickers on the elite list for the award that goes to the top placekicker in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The junior, who has made four game-winning field goals during his Huskie career, made 22-of-27 field goals and all of his PAT attempts in 2021. He broke the NIU record for field goals made in a season with at least one field goal made in 10 of the 13 games he played.
In 2021, Richardson ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring while leading the league and ranking ninth in the FBS in field goals per game. The Brother Rice product made six-of-seven field goals of 40 yards or longer and hit 12-of-13 threes from inside 33 yards a year ago.
The three-year starter ranks sixth on the NIU career kick scoring list while his 43 career field goals made are tied for fifth at NIU all-time. He was named MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting a school record five-of-six field goals at Toledo, including the game-winner on a 29-yard attempt with 26 seconds left to play. His 32-yard three-pointer with no time on the clock gave NIU a win over Ball State as he claimed his second MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Richardson is the lone MAC player named to the preseason Groza Award Watch List.
With Richardson’s addition, seven different Huskies have now earned recognition on different preseason watch lists in 2022. Safety C.J. Brown (Canton, Mich./Walled Lake Western HS) is on both the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Award Watch Lists and offensive tackle Nolan Potter (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) was named to the Outland Trophy list. They joined wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee HS), who earned a spot on the Biletnikoff Award list, and running backs Harrison Waylee (Johnston, Iowa/Urbandale HS) and Antario Brown (Savannah, Ga./Beach HS), who were selected to the Doak Walker Award watch list. Junior linebacker Nick Rattin (Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS) was nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
NIU opens preseason practice on Monday, August 1 with the season opener versus Eastern Illinois set for Thursday, September 1 at Huskie Stadium. Tickets for the upcoming NIU football and volleyball seasons are on sale now. Season tickets offer the best value, with football tickets priced as low as $15 per ticket with the Huskie Plan. Mini-Plans are also available, with an All-Saturday plan for the three Saturday home games for $90 and an All-Weekday plan for the season opener and two MACtion matchups against Central Michigan (Nov. 2) and Miami (Nov. 16) for $78. To purchase season tickets or mini-plans anytime, CLICK HERE or call 815-753-PACK (7225) Monday through Friday.