Wheaton, Ill. - For the second consecutive season, senior placekicker and punter Sam Cote has been named to the Fred Mitchell Award Preseason Watch List. Cote is one of 36 kickers spanning NCAA Divisions I, II, and III as well as NAIA and NJCAA. Cote is one of just 12 honorees from Division III institutions as well as one of only 13 who were also named to the preseason watch list last season. Last season Cote was named as one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Fred Mitchell Award.

Cote converted 12 of his 16 field goal attempts this season and he totaled 83 points for the Thunder a year ago. He had a career-long field goal of 53 yards at Illinois Wesleyan on October 26. In his three seasons with the Thunder, Cote has made 20 field goals on 29 attempts.

He also served as the punter for the Thunder last season, averaging 35.5 yards per punt, with 13 inside the 20-yard line. He was honored as the CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week three times this season, earning the award on September 16, October 21 and November 4.

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