Dec. 15, 2006

Bristol, Conn. - Wake Forest sophomore placekicker Sam Swank was named a first team All-Americans by ESPN on Friday. ESPN becomes the third national media outlet to recognize Swank as a first team All-American.

Swank was the most valuable player of the ACC Championship Game, a first team All-America selection by Rivals.com and Sports Illustrated and a first team All-ACC selection. The native of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and the Ray Guy Award.

Swank is 21-of-28 on field goals this season, including 5-of-7 from beyond 50 yards, and a perfect 32-of-32 on extra points.

Swank has made 11 of his last 14 field goal attempts, including 3-of-4 in the ACC Championship Game. He has made two kicks from 53 yards this season to tie the school record. Swank has six of the 10 longest field goals in Wake Forest history.

In the Wake Forest career record book, Swank is first in field goal percent (40-of-52, 77 percent), consecutive PATs (61), second in career field goals (40) and sixth in scoring (181 points). Swank has broken or is approaching several single season records. His 21 field goals and 28 attempts this year are the most ever by a Deacon. His 32 PATs rank fifth, but he is only two away from second place (Wilson Hoyle, 1988).

Swank also serves as Wake Forest's punter and was given honorable mention All-ACC by the league's media.

The Demon Deacons (11-2) take on fifth-ranked Louisville (11-1) in the 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami's Dolphin Stadium on Jan. 2. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. on Fox.

Swank's 2006 Placekicking Statistics:
All FGs:  	21-of-28 (75 percent)
   Career:	   40-of-52 (77 percent)
Inside 40:  	12-of-14 (86 percent)
   Career:	   25-of-30 (83 percent)
Inside 50:  	9-of-13 (75 percent)
   Career:	   26-of-35 (77 percent)
Beyond 50:  	5-of-7 (71 percent)
   Career:	   7-of-9 (78 percent)
PATs:	        32-of-32 (100 percent)
   Career:	   61-of-61 (100 percent)
50-Yard Field Goals in 2006
1. 	Sam Swank, Wake Forest	        5-7
2.	Alexis Serna, Oregon State	4-6
3. 	Jeff Snodgrass, Kansas State 	3-4
4.	Mason Crosby, Colorado	        2-5
	Justin Medlock, UCLA	        2-2
	John Vaughn, Auburn	        2-3
	Jeremy Ito, Rutgers	        2-3
	Connor Barth, UNC	        2-2
	Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State	2-3
	
50-Yard FGs/Game (NCAA History)
1. 	Sam Swank, WF (2006)	          3
	Dan Orner, N. Carolina (2002)	  3
	Jerry DePoyster, Wyoming (1966)	  3
	Sergio Lopez-Cavero, Shox (1984)  3
	Tom Douglas,  Iowa (1988)          3
Career Placekicking Statistics
	PAT	FG-A	Pct.	Lg	Blk	Pts	40+	50+
2005	29-29	19-24	.792	52	0	86	6-8	2-2
2006	32-32	21-28	.750	53	0	95	5-7	5-7
Career	61-61	40-52	.769	53	0	181	11-14	7-9