Swenson Named Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-American
His 15 made field goals represent the ninth-best single-season total in Spartan history.
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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State placekicker Brett Swenson, who led the team in scoring with 78 points in 2006, has been named first-team Freshman All-American by Scripps/Football Writers Association of America. Swenson previously earned identical honors from The Sporting News, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com.
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The 5-foot-8, 151-pound Swenson converted 15-of-19 field-goal attempts and all 33 extra-point tries. His 15 made field goals represent the ninth-best single-season total in Spartan history (tied with Morten Andersen, 1981). An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media, Swenson ranked among the conference leaders in field goals (tied for third with 1.25 made per game), field-goal percentage (tied for third at .789), kick scoring (fourth at 6.5 points per game) and overall scoring (sixth).
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Swenson converted 12-of-13 field-goal attempts during a late-season stretch, including six in a row. He also hit six-straight field goals during a five-game stretch early in the season.
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He went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts from 40-49 yards, including a 45-yarder in the first quarter at Penn State.
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Swenson was perfect on three field-goal attempts against Purdue, including a season-long 46-yarder in the second quarter. He also converted field-goal attempts from 22 and 40 yards against the Boilermakers.
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The Pompano Beach, Fla., native was named one of the Lou Groza Award’s Top Three Stars of the Week after his 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds left gave Michigan State a 41-38 victory at Northwestern, completing the greatest comeback in NCAA I-A history as the Spartans rallied from a 35-point third-quarter deficit. Swenson accounted for 11 points against the Wildcats, hitting 2-of-2 field-goal attempts and all five PATs. His 32-yard field goal with 10:07 remaining in the first quarter opened the scoring.
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He made two field goals against Illinois in the Big Ten opener, including a 27-yarder with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 20.
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Swenson accounted for nine points in the 2006 season opener against Idaho, hitting 2-of-3 field-goal attempts and all three extra-point tries. His 35-yard field goal in the second quarter was longer than any of the five made by the Spartans during the 2005 season. His 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left iced the game as Michigan State extended its lead to 10 at 27-17.
Thanks to John Lewandowski, the MSU SID!