CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel junior kicker Eric Goins was one of 32 kickers recognized by the Fred Mitchell Award on Wednesday.

Goins leads the Southern Conference with 31 PATs made this season, a total that ranks ninth on The Citadel's single-season list, and ranks fourth in the conference with an average of 5.8 points per game. He is 5-of-7 on field goals with a long of 45 yards, 31-of-31 on PATs and has 22 touchbacks on 48 kickoffs this season. The Herndon, Virginia, native's 64 career PATs rank seventh on the program's all-time list, and his 106 career points are ninth among kickers in school history.

Off the field, Goins is a Cadet Major serving as the Battalion Academic Officer where he takes an active role in assisting members of his battalion succeed academically. He completed the Army Cadet Leadership Course this summer and will enter the Army as a lieutenant after graduating from The Citadel. His volunteer activities include working at the Charleston Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and The Citadel Knights of Columbus.

The Fred Mitchell Award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate kicker among FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA teams. The award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting kicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist. The recipient is chosen based on excellence on the field and in the community. The winner is announced in December, and the trophy is presented at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony at Halas Hall in February.

The 22nd-ranked Bulldogs are back in Johnson Hagood Stadium on Saturday hosting SoCon rival VMI for Homecoming and Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. For tickets, visit CitadelSports.com/tickets or call 843-953-DOGS (3647).

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