Miami Hurricanes PK Andy Borregales targeting Groza Award, believes this team can win a national title

It’s no surprise that Miami Hurricanes PK Andy Borregales is on the Lou Groza Preseason Watch List as one of the nation’s top returning kickers. It’s been a goal of his to win the hardware, and it’s not just personal. It’s a family affair, since older brother Jose won it at Miami after transferring in from FIU in 2020.

“Awards obviously mean a lot, but to cap off my career would be to win the ACC, win a natty with this team,” Borregales said. “I firmly believe we can. Winning that Lou Groza would cap off that brotherly competition – `We both have the same trophy!’”

Certainly Borregales should be right there among the top kickers in the nation. He was an All-ACC First Team pick in 2023 and was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist for the second year in a row after hitting on 22 of 26 field goals (80 percent) with one blocked. Of his 73 kickoffs, 46 were touchbacks (63 percent) with only one out of bounds. He hit a long field goal of 51 twice – against Florida State and Louisville. He also converted 44 of 45 extra points.

Borregales says this year his leg is stronger and he’s working most on his accuracy. He’ll also handle kickoffs once again.

“A lot of grinding, that’s how it is,” Borregales said, adding that he’s had an “amazing transformation” since he was a freshman.

“I was a little bit timid at times (in Year 1 at Miami), but was always confident in myself and what I can do. The last three offseasons were a lot of grinding, and I’ve improved mentally, physically, have gotten bigger. That’s helped a lot, too. From freshman year to now I feel it’s two different people.”

Prior to last year Borregales hit 17 of 21 field goals as a true freshman in 2021 (long of 55) and in 2022 made 17 of 20 with a long of 49. He improved his kickoff touchback percentage from 45.1 percent in 2021 to 64.9 percent in 2022 and then was at the aforementioned 63 percent this past season.

In addition to his own goals, he’s also working to mentor new Miami PK arrival and his eventual successor, Abram Murray.

“I’ve been helping Abram get situated with everything,” Borregales said. “He’s been doing great. … Comparing my freshman year to how he is, he’s a lot better. I just have to say how it is. He has great potential. His confidence is through the roof, and I’m helping him maintain that. Just helping him deal with time management and all that so he doesn’t make the same mistakes I made.

“He helps me out. I had to tweak something (with kicking), he helped me. We help each other.”

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