Penn State's Fera named semifinalist for Lou Groza award

Penn State's Anthony Fera was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, which is given annually to the nation's top placekicker by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission.

The redshirt sophomore, who handles field goals and extra points, punts and kickoffs for the Nittany Lions, is 11-of-12 on field goals this season. Fera didn't kick his first field goal until the fourth game of the season, as he was serving a Joe Paterno-mandated suspension for an off-the-field issue.

Fera has been named the Big Ten's special teams player of the week twice this season.

Collin Wagner, who kicked for the Lions in 2009 and 2010, was a semifinalist for the award last season.

The winner of the 2011 Lou Groza award will be announced Dec. 8.

--Jake Kaplan