Following a record-setting senior season and career, South Dakota State University kicker Justin Syrovatka was named the recipient of the College Football Performance Awards Elite Placekicker Award for the Football Championship Subdivision.
A Sioux Falls native, Syrovatka missed only kick during the 2014 season, setting 10 different school records. He went 19-of-20 on field goals to tie the single-season school record for made field goals, while also connecting on a school-record 16 consecutive attempts.
In making all 50 of his extra-point attempts, Syrovatka set single-season records for most PATs in a season en route to a new Jackrabbit single-season scoring mark by a kicker with 107 points. He also set SDSU records for career PATs (154), career PAT attempts (156) and career PAT percentage (.987). His career .764 field goal percentage (55-of-72) also is a Jackrabbit standard.
College Football Performance Awards provides the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams.
2014 CFPA FCS Awards:
National Performer of the Year — John Robertson, Villanova
National Defensive Performer of the Year — Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
National Freshman Performer of the Year — Chase Edmonds, Fordham
All-Purpose Performer of the Year — David Johnson, Northern Iowa
Return Specialist of the Year — Chandler Curtis, Mercer
Quarterback Award — John Robertson, Villanova
Running Back Award — Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State
Wide Receiver Award — R.J. Harris, New Hampshire
Tight End Award — MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois
Defensive End Award — P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State
Defensive Tackle Award — Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State
Linebacker Award — Don Cherry, Villanova
Defensive Back Award — Jacob Hagen, Liberty
Placekicker Award — Michael Schmadeke, Northern Iowa
Punter Award — Ben LeCompte, North Dakota State
Kickoff Returner Award — Pokey Harris, Murray State
Punt Returner Award — Antonio Hamilton, South Carolina State
Elite Placekicker Award — John Lunsford, Liberty
Elite Defensive End Award — James Cowser, Southern Utah
Elite Linebacker Award — Quinn Backus, Coastal Carolina
Elite Defensive Performer Award — Zack Wagenmann, Montana
Elite Placekicker Award — Justin Syrovatka, South Dakota State
Elite Defensive Tackle Award — Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa