Lou Groza

Cairo Santos: Lou Groza Award Semi-Finalist

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• published: 05 Nov 2012
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Here's a look at some of Cairo's best kicks from earlier this season. Two days after setting a school record with a 57-yard field goal, Tulane University football standout Cairo Santos garnered national recognition as the junior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was named a semifinalist for the 2012 Lou Groza National Collegiate Place-Kicker Award as announced by the Orange Bowl Committee. Santos, who prepped as an exchange student at St. Joseph's Academy in St. Augustine, Fla., is a perfect 14-for-14 kicking field goals so far during the 2012 season, including a 9-of-9 showing from 40-plus yards and a 2-of-2 performance from 50-plus. In addition, Santos has kicked off 41 times for 2,624 yards (64.0 avg.) with 27 touchbacks to hold opponents to an average starting field position of their own 24-yard line. The national honor is his second in as many days, as Santos was named National Placekicker of the Week on Sunday by the College Football Performance Awards for his performance against Rice. In the game against the Owls, Santos was true on field goal attempts of 57 and 42 yards, split the uprights on all five of his PATs and kicked off seven times for 454 yards (64.9 avg.) with six touchbacks. His 57-yard field goal broke the former Tulane record of 54 originally established by Mark Olivari vs. Air Force on Nov. 8, 1975 and later tied by Ed Murray vs. Memphis on Oct. 28, 1978, and Santos himself this year against ULM on Sept. 29. The boot is tied for the third longest in the country this season, and Santos is the only player in the nation to have two field goals of 54 yards or longer. Also, be sure to vote Cairo as your favorite on http://www.lougrozaaward.com/12semifinalists!