Bronx, N.Y. (July 7, 2014) – Fordham University placekicker Michael Marando was named to the 2014 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS Placekicker Award Watch List it was announced on Monday.

"Congratulations to Michael Marando on earning a spot on this year's watch list," said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. "Marando will be one of the nation's top placekickers to watch in 2014."

Marando is the ninth Fordham player to be named to the CFPA Watch List for the 2014 season. He joins Sam Ajala, Tebucky Jones, Jr., and Brian Wetzel (all wide receiver), Michael Nebrich (QB), Dan Light (TE), Brett Biestek (DL), Stephen Hodge (LB), and Ian Williams (DB) on the 2014 CFPA Watch List.

Marando, a first team All-Patriot League pick last fall who was named third team preseason All-America for 2014 by Beyond Sports Network, came into his own in 2013, connecting on 16 of 20 field goal attempts and 55 of 56 PATs. He booted three field goals in a game twice, including a career-long 47-yarder in the win at Temple, a game in which he provided Fordham's margin of victory with a PAT with less than ten seconds left in the game. Marando's 55 PATs was a new school record, breaking the former mark of 47 set by Micah Clukey in 2003, and his 16 field goals made last year was the third highest total in Fordham history. He led the Patriot League and was 12^th in the NCAA FCS in field goals/game (1.3) and he was second in the league and 18^th in the NCAA in scoring (8.6 points/game).

Two Fordham players have earned CFPA honors. Former Fordham tight end Stephen Skelton earned CFPA honors in 2010, while current Tampa Bay Bucs specialist Patrick Murray earned the 2011 CFPA Punter Award and 2012 CFPA Placekicker Award.

The initial watch list includes 36 returning performers, vying for the top placekicker award in the Football Championship Subdivision. All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide 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. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

CFPA is now in its seventh season of recognition, utilizing objective rankings of player and team performance. CFPA's data index, used since 2008, spans offense, defense, and special teams.

Last season, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston earned the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy for the FBS, while Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams earned the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.

CFPA Trophy winner and former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was the first overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.