RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Fred Mitchell Award 2026 Midseason Watch List was released Wednesday and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) senior kicker Brysen Gardner was one of 41 placekickers on the list for performances through the first half of the season. 
 
Gardner ranks first in the Southland Conference (SLC) in field goals per game (1.83) and is fourth in all of FCS. He is third in the conference in field goal percentage (73.3%), total points (48) and scoring per game (8.0 PPG), a stat in which he is 21^st in the nation. 
 
Gardner was named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference Second Team. He is currently 11-for-15 on field goals this season and made a program-best 51-yard field goal Oct. 10 in a 13-3 win over #25 Southeastern. 
 
The Fred Mitchell Award honors outstanding placekickers from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior college football programs. There were 18 kickers from the FCS recognized on the midseason watch list along with 10 from Div. II, seven from Div. III, five from the NAIA and one from the NJCAA. 
 
The 2026 season has brought a significant wave of emerging talent across the eligible divisions. Following the 2025 season, 11 kickers previously recognized by the Fred Mitchell Award transferred to FBS programs, highlighting the caliber of talent competing at the non-FBS level. These transfers demonstrate the award's ability to identify outstanding placekickers capable of competing at the highest level of college football, while creating opportunities for a new wave of kickers to emerge.
 
The Fred Mitchell Award Selection Committee evaluated numerous outstanding performances throughout the first half of the season, with dozens of additional kickers receiving serious consideration beyond the 40 selected for the Midseason Watch List. With much of the season remaining, the committee looks forward to seeing which athletes distinguish themselves during the second half.
 
"We are just about halfway through the regular season and numerous kickers already have distinguished themselves on the field," said Fred Mitchell. "Our Selection Committee will be sorting through the comprehensive list of outstanding kickers who have also stepped up in the community."
While the Midseason Watch List recognizes excellence on the football field, community service remains an essential component of the Fred Mitchell Award. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Selection Committee will evaluate each kicker's community and civic service participation alongside their on-field accomplishments.
 
The award recognizes not only field goal accuracy, distance, and performances in critical moments, but also the positive impact student-athletes make beyond the football field.
The recipient of the 2026 Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in December based on accomplishments on the football field and contributions to the community.

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