Syracuse, N.Y. -- Andre Szmyt has put together one of the most impressive individual seasons in Syracuse football history.

That much is unarguable after the redshirt freshman from Vernon Hills, Ill., who went from walk-on to scholarship athlete to Lou Groza Award winner in his first season as the team's kicker, became just the ninth unanimous All-American in program history.

Szmyt was named a first-team All-America selection by the American Football Coaches Association on Wednesday, garnering his fifth, first-team All-America honor in the quintet of NCAA-recognized committees used to determine such lofty distinction.

Szmyt and the entire field-goal operation, from the protection, to long snappers Matt Keller and Aaron Bolinsky, down to holder Nolan Cooney, were a crucial widget in Syracuse football's stunning turnaround.

Szmyt leads the country in field goals made (28), field goals attempted (32), field goals per game (2.33), and points per game (11.8). He is second nationally in scoring (his 141 points are a Syracuse school record) and tied for eighth in the country in field-goal percentage (.875).

No. 20 Syracuse (9-3, 6-2 ACC) ends its 2018 season Dec. 28 in the Camping World Bowl against No. 16 West Virginia (8-3, 6-3 Big 12). Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m., and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

This season has seen the team achieve its highest win total since 2001. It has returned to the national polls for the first time since 2001. It is fitting, then, that Szmyt is the first Syracuse footbal unanimous All-American in 17 years, since defensive end Dwight Freeney pulled off the feat terrorizing opposing quarterbacks as a senior before embarking on a long professional career destined to end in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I'm still taking it in," Szmyt said last Friday, the day he returned from Atlanta as the Lou Groza Award winner, presented annually to the nation's best kicker.

"Winning the job a week before the season started, winning a scholarship, it's all been kind of crazy. It's such a humbling experience."

The other seven Syracuse players to earn unanimous All-America distinction are tight end Chris Gedney (1992), quarterback Don McPherson (1987), defensive tackle Tim Green (1985), fullback Larry Csonka (1967), halfback Ernie Davis (1961), offensive guard Roger Davis (1959) and halfback Jim Brown (1956).

Contact Nate Mink anytime: 315-430-8253 |

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