Szmyt a Unanimous All-American

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The nation's best kicker is now a unanimous All-American.

Redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt became the ninth unanimous All-American in Syracuse history on Wednesday, Dec. 12 after he was named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America First Team.

Szmyt, previously tabbed as a consensus All-American following his first-team selections by Walter Camp, the Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, has now received first-team honors from all five NCAA-recognized All-America selectors.

He is the first Orange athlete to be voted a unanimous All-American since Dwight Freeney in 2001, and joins Freeney, Chris Gedney (1992), Don McPherson (1987), Tim Green (1985), Larry Csonka (1967), Ernie Davis (1961), Roger Davis (1959) and Jim Brown (1956) in that exclusive club. Szmyt is the first Syracuse specialist to earn the distinction.

The 2018 Lou Groza Award winner, Szmyt leads the FBS in field goals made (28), field goals attempted (32), field goals per game (2.33), and points per game (11.8). He is second the nation in scoring (141 points) and tied for eighth in the FBS in field-goal percentage (.875). His 141 points are a Syracuse record and rank third on the Atlantic Coast Conference single-season scoring list.

Szmyt, originally a walk-on who earned a scholarship six games into the season, is 21-for-22 from inside 40 yards and 3-for-3 from beyond 50 yards. He has also made all 57 of his point-after attempts.

Szmyt and the 17th-ranked Orange (9-3, 6-2 ACC) will square off against No. 15 West Virginia (8-3, 6-3 Big 12) in the 2018 Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 28. Bowl tickets and travel packages are available now at Cuse.com/Camping World.

New season ticket orders and renewals to watch Orange football in 2019 are also being accepted now. Tickets for next season's six-game home slate start at $100 for Syracuse University Young Alumni (Class of 2015 to Class of 2019 graduates) and $125 for the general public. They may be purchased online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

The deadline to renew current season tickets is March 8, 2019.

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