2017 Greg Joseph
Kicker, Florida Atlantic Owls
It has been quite the year for Florida Atlantic kicker Greg Joseph. The senior almost didn’t have a college football career at all – choosing to walk-on with the Owls rather than take an offer at a lower school – but he has fought through that adversity to finish his career as a record-holder.
It was the game against Navy back in September where Joseph etched his name in the lore of Florida Atlantic football. In that game he made a 54-yard field goal – the longest kick in school history – but that was one of just three records set on that one play. Joseph also became FAU’s all-time leading scorer AND became the player with the most made field goals in school history.
Joseph’s biggest strength as a kicker is the power that he produces. He is not a player that is going to have field goals fall short because of a lack of distance, as he is likely to blast them and test the netting behind the uprights. His leg has been a big weapon for FAU during his career, with his ability to consistently drive the ball through the end zone on kickoffs and negating opponents’ kick return units entirely.
Community Service wise he is involved in all team and department functions but uses the summer to do more and often gets his teammates involved. Last summer, the 2017 Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award winner got the special team and the offensive line involved with “Paint Your Heart Out”. They literally painted a home for someone in less than two hours. Joseph also serves as the President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was on the Watch list for the Lou Grozza Award.
Ironically, Joseph was not really called upon as the Owls won Conference USA for the first time with a 41-17 victory over North Texas. Nor was his leg needed as the destroyed a massively over matched Akron team 50-3 in the Boca Raton Bowl. Every player on the team though knows that they would not have been in those showcase events without their star kicker and that his departure will leave a massive hole in the lineup next year.
About The Award: Freddie Solomon played his college football at the University of Tampa and went on to play for the Miami Dolphins for three seasons before joining the San Francisco 49ers where he helped win two Super Bowl championships. His career in the National Football League as a wide receiver came to a close after 11 years. Then the Sumter, SC, native known as “Fabulous Freddie”, came back to Hillsborough County to make a more lasting impact. Solomon devoted the next 12 years of his life to the youths of Tampa Bay, working with the Sheriff’s department to teach kids life lessons through football. His efforts impacted more than two decades of youths and his lessons are still carried on in the community. The Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award continues Solomon’s efforts to help make the world a better place by annually honoring a collegiate football player who has impacted the lives of others through giving and community service.