UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn named Lou Groza Award semifinalist

UCLA kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (15) is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award. He is 13 of 14 on field goals, and made a career-high 60 yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, 2015. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (15) is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award. He is 13 of 14 on field goals, and made a career-high 60 yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, 2015. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA senior Ka’imi Fairbairn was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, given each year to the top kicker in college football.

He has hit 13 of 14 field goals, giving him a 92.9 percent conversion rate that ranks the best among kickers with double-digit attempts. UConn’s Bobby Puyol (92.3), Western Kentucky’s Garrett Schwettman (91.7) and Stanford’s Conrad Ukropina are the only others above 90 percent.

Fairbairn has hit two of three tries from at least 50 yards away, including a school-record 60-yarder against Cal on Oct. 22, the longest make in any FBS game since 2012. He is 12 points away from tying John Lee’s all-time UCLA scoring record of 390.

The three finalists for the Lou Groza Award will be named on Nov. 24, while the winner will be announced on Dec. 10 on ESPN. Kai Forbath is the only Bruin to have won the trophy, doing so in 2009.