A year removed from his arrival at Pittsburgh, Cummings (Newhall, Calif./Hart/College of the Canyons) now holds status as one of the nation’s top kickers.
Indicative of that status was his inclusion on the Lou Groza Award “Watch List.” Cummings is one of 30 preliminary candidates for this year’s award which honors the nation’s top placekicker.
The Lou Groza Award winner is selected by a panel of 300 experts, including Division I-A head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and all previous Groza Award finalists. This year’s winner will be announced on Thursday, December 8, 2005, during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Florida.
Cummings was a 2004 first-team All-Big East selection after becoming Pitt’s most prolific kick scorer in 28 years. He compiled a team-high 89 points, the most since Carson Long had 99 during the 1976 national championship season. Cummings’ 18 field goals tied Pitt's single-season record established by Long in ’76.
On the year Cummings made 18 of his 27 field-goal attempts, while also converting 35-of-37 extra points. Perhaps his biggest kick was a 32-yard field goal with one second left that lifted Pitt past Notre Dame, 41-38. Cummings also provided two winning field goals in overtime last year.
In addition to his inclusion on the Lou Groza Award Watch List, Cummings was named the nation’s No. 3 placekicker by The Sporting News and was a preseason All-Big East selection by virtually every publication.
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