Wake Forest Athletics
Gattis, Swank Win ACC Weekly Honors
10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Wake Forest senior safety Josh Gattis and sophomore punter and placekicker Sam Swank were selected as the ACC's Defensive Back and Specialist of the week, respectively, the league announced on Monday. Swank becomes the first player in conference history to win the ACC's Specialist of the Week award three weeks in a row.
The Demon Deacons defeated NC State on Saturday, 25-23, to jump into the Associated Press top 25.
Against the Wolfpack, Swank tied an NCAA record by making three field goals of at least 50 yards (51, 53 and 53 yards). Swank became only the fifth player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. The two field goals from 53 tied the Wake Forest school record. Then, with less than three minutes to go and the Deacons clinging to a two-point lead, Swank boomed a 54-yard punt with no return. He punted four times for a 44-yard average. Only two of the four were returned and one dropped inside the 20.
The native of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., is the only kicker in the country with four field goals of 50 yards or more this season. No one else has more than two. Swank has made nine of his last 10 field goal attempts and is 11-for-15 (73%) on the year. Only six of his 32 punts have been returned this season and 12 have been downed inside the 20. Swank has keyed the Deacons to an net punting average 39.0 to rank 11th nationally.
Swank was also chosen the national special teams player of the week by the Master Coaches Survey.
Last week against Clemson, Swank dropped four punts inside the Tigers' five-yard line en route to the weekly ACC honor. Against Liberty, Swank nailed field goals of 52 and 37 yards.
Swank was the only freshman to be named a Lou Groza award semifinalist last year.
In the NC State game, Gattis forced a fumble that was recovered by the Wolfpack for a safety, giving the Deacons a 15-14 lead moments before halftime. Wake Forest never surrendered the lead. Gattis intercepted NC State's Daniel Evans on the final drive to seal the 25-23 victory for the Deacons. He finished the day with seven tackles including one for loss.
On the year, the native of Durham, N.C., is tied for the team lead with two interceptions (one vs. Clemson, one vs. NC State). He has four pass break-ups and ranks among the ACC leaders with six passes defended. Gattis has 38 tackles, third-most on the team and ranks 24th in the ACC in that category.
Gattis is a member of the 2006 Jim Thorpe Award watch list and was an honorable mention All-American last season.
Gattis is the fifth Deacon to earn weekly ACC honors this season. Offensive tackle Steve Vallos was the ACC offensive lineman of the week following Wake Forest's season-opening win against Syracuse. Quarterback Riley Skinner was the ACC Rookie of the Week after the win against Duke. Center Steve Justice was the ACC's offensive lineman of the week after the Ole Miss victory. Swank earned ACC Specialist of Week honors three straight weeks, after the Liberty, Clemson and NC State games.
The 25th-ranked Demon Deacons (6-1) are off their their best start since 1979. Wake Forest has a bye this week before returning to action on October 28 in Chapel Hill against North Carolina.
