Smith, Swank Named First Team Freshmen All-American
12/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 7, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC - Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith and placekicker Sam Swank were chosen first team Freshmen All-Americans on Wednesday by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Smith, a native of Pahokee, Fla., was one of three players to start all 11 games on Wake Forest's defense and was an impact player on defense and special teams. At cornerback, he had three interceptions to tie for fourth in the ACC. He defended 12 passes, tied for third in the ACC. Smith also registered 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. On special teams, he blocked two punts and made game-clinching tackles on fake kicks by Clemson and NC State. Smith's 60 tackles ranked fourth on the team. He was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his perfomance against the Wolfpack that included an interception return for touchdown that provided the final points in Wake Forest's 27-19 win.
Swank was the only freshman in the country to make the Lou Groza Award semifinalist list. He made 19-of-23 field goal attempts this season and all 29 of his extra point attempts. The native of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., made 11 straight field goals during one stretch to break the Wake Forest school record that had stood since 1987. Swank made the two longest field goals in the ACC this season, of 51 and 52 yards against Nebraska and Miami, respectively. Swank's 86 points were the most ever by a Deacon freshman and the fifth-most by a freshman in ACC history.
Smith and Swank were both chosen second team Freshman All-America by Rivals.com.
CollegeFootballNews.com 2005 Freshman All-America First TeamOffense:QB Pat White, West VirginiaRB Tyrell Sutton, NorthwesternRB Darren McFadden, ArkansasWR Sidney Rice, South CarolinaWR James Hardy, IndianaTE Chase Coffman, MissouriOT Max Unger, OregonOG Cole Popovich, Fresno StateC Eric Wood, LouisvilleOG Jeremy Perry, Oregon StateOT Sean Sester, Purdue
Defense:DE Steve Davis, MinnesotaDT Mitch King, IowaDT Rashaad Jackson, ClemsonDE Brian Orakpo, TexasLB Michael Brown, DukeLB Rashad Bobino, TexasLB Freddie Fairchild, ArkansasCB Alphonso Smith, Wake ForestS Courtney Greene, RutgersS Kenny Phillips, MiamiCB Joe Burnett, UCF
Special TeamsP Chris Miller, Ball StateK Sam Swank, Wake ForestKR Felix Jones, ArkansasPR Joe Burnett, UCF
