CHICAGO, Ill. — Gallaudet University junior kicker Jonathon Waterman (Sebastian, Fla.) is one of eight NCAA Division III players on the September Performance Watch List for the 2022 Fred Mitchell Award, given to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams.
The Fred Mitchell Award committee has selected 29 place-kickers for the month of September for their excellence on the football field and for continued community service during the off-season. The selected student-athletes were nominated by their Athletic Communications/Sports Information Director.
"It is with great pleasure that we kickoff the 2022 football season by presenting our Watch List for the annual Fred Mitchell Award," said Mitchell, the namesake for the award. Mitchell was a record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.
"Many familiar names from the 2021 FCS, Div. II, Div. III, NAIA and community colleges top rankings appear on this list as we seek to acknowledge excellence in kicking and community service. At last check, there are kickers from 768 non-FBS colleges who will be competing for this prestigious award. Our 35-man selection committee will recognize outstanding performances each month throughout the football season before voting for a winner in December. Good luck to all for your efforts and dedication. Congratulations to all of the kickers who are off to a tremendous start this season. Our committee looks forward to recognizing even more players who exemplify our award's mission of superior kicking and community service."
Waterman was named the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Special Teams Player of the Week on September 12. The junior kicker/punter for the Bison finished the month of September with a perfect mark of 10-for-10 on extra-point attempts, 3-for-4 on field goals with a career best 45 yards in the 34-31 victory at University of New England. Waterman recorded nine punts for 276 yards with two punts landing inside the 20 and one for a touchback.
Of the 29 place-kickers selected for the September Performance Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award, 10 hail from the FCS, eight from Division II, eight from Division III, two from NAIA and one from NJCAA. The group represents 18 different states and Washington, D.C. Of the 29 place-kickers, 11 are sophomores, nine are juniors, six are seniors, two are graduate students and one freshman.
Waterman is joined by the following Division III place-kickers; Lake Barrett (Wooster), Sam Bingaman (Moravian), Erik Flores (Ripon), Scott Martin (Shenandoah), Jared Mendoza (McMurry), Cael O'Neil (Wartburg) and Logan Sunvold (Central).
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. More information can be found at www.fredmitchellaward.com.
(release courtesy of Gallaudet Sports Information)
