The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award) is provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker from the FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, the NAIA and the NJCAA. The award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.
While he was not selected as one of 10 finalists for this year's awards, the redshirt senior was one of 28 semifinalists across five different football divisions representing almost 700 institutions. Mitchell finished the season at 20-for-27 on field goal attempts and was 27-for-28 on extra point tries. He currently leads the FCS in field goals per game at 1.81.
The native of Franklin, Tennessee took his place in the MSU history books against UT Martin in October when he became the first Racer kicker in 14 years to make a field goal from 50-plus yards out, nailing a 50-yarder against the Skyhawks. One week later, he made history again by making a school-record six field goals in the Racers' upset of 15th-ranked Eastern Illinois.
Mitchell was one of just five FCS kickers named as a semifinalist for this year's award. Fellow OVC kicker Nick Madonia of Tennessee Tech joined Mitchell as a semi-finalist and was also named as one the 10 finalists.
