COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech junior kicker Nick Madonia had a fantastic season last year for the Golden Eagles, earning a finalist nod for the Fred Mitchell Award, which celebrates the top kickers in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, as well as NAIA and NJCAA.

 

On Monday, it was announced that Madonia will start the season on the Mitchell Award watchlist.

 

Madonia, an Arrington, Tenn., product, led the Golden Eagles in scoring in 2016 with 72 points and also kicked a program-record 57-yard field goal in November against Tennessee State. He was also 13-for-16 on the year on field goal attempts and was 33-for-35 on point-after tries.

 

He was twice named the Ohio Valley Conference's co-Specialist of the Week and was named the HERO Sports FCS Defensive/Special Teams Hero of the Week in mid-November.

 

Madonia isn't the only OVC kicker to make the list as Tennessee State's Lane Clark was also among the current six FCS contenders.

 

The award will be announced in mid-December.

 

The Golden Eagles open the season on August 31 as Tech hosts FCS No. 25 Western Illinois. Season tickets are now on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or log on to TTUsports.com to get yours now.