Simpson Named Finalist for Fred Mitchell Award

BALDWIN CITY - After leading the NAIA in field goals made this year, junior kicker Seth Simpson was selected as one of the 10 finalists for the 2024 Fred Mitchell Award, announced by the award's selection committee on Wednesday.

The annual Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award (also known as the Fred Mitchell Award) is provided to the nation's top collegiate place-kicker among more than 750 FCS, Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams. The award does not include NCAA Division I-A FBS teams.

The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award is chosen based on excellence on the football field and in the community. The award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting place-kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.

Simpson, a junior from Lee's Summit, Mo., has been Baker's primary kicker for the past two-plus seasons, totaling over 250 points in his career (253) with 42 field goals made and a near-perfect mark on extra points (127-for-130). He made over 80 percent of his field goals for the second straight season, going 21-for-25 (84%) on kicks this fall with three or more field goals in four games, including an outing against Missouri Valley where he hit four field goals.

Simpson's 21 field goals made led all NAIA kickers this season, tallying five more than the next-highest mark. He was selected to the All-Heart South First Team for the second straight year and was a two-time Heart Special Teams Player of the Week award winner this season.

Off the field, Simpson has been an active member in his hometown community of Lee's Summit. He has volunteered the past few seasons at Coldwater Lee's Summit, which is a food and clothing pantry in Lee's Summit that provides essential resources for those in need.

Simpson and the Wildcats finished off a 2024 season that saw them win nine games (9-2), earn a share of the Heart South title and reach the NAIA FCS all for the second straight year. BU went 5-1 in conference play and forced a three-way tie for the league championship after defeating MidAmerica Nazarene, 20-14 on the road in the second-to-last game of the regular season.

To view a full list of the award's finalists, please click here.

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