Garrett Schwettman Named to Place Kicker Watch List

Man, what an offseason it has been for the WKU Hilltoppers football squad. So far, both Mitchtell Henry and Cam Thomas have been named to watch lists for awards for their respective positions, and this morning, news broke that junior place kicker Garrett Schwettman would join them, as he was one of 40 players to be named to the College Football Performance Award Watch List in the kicking position.

Schwettman, who is already fifth all-time in WKU history in career points scored by a kicker (156) missed just three field goals last year, going 13-for-16 and nailed 45 extra points, finishing 2013 with 84 overall. In his two quick years in a Toppers uni, Schwettman is 23-of-29 on field goals and 87-for-90 in extra point attempts. Not only does Schwettman shadow Henry and Thomas by being named to a position watch list, but this is also his third honor of the preseason – being named preseason All-Conference USA from both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.

If you’ll recall, the WKU kicking game was…well, not good back in 2011. It was nothing short of a miracle that the Tops won that 10-9 “thriller,” against FIU (although, the kicking game wasn’t the only thing miraculous about that), but once Schettman came onto the team, he’s become near automatic, and his arrival is one of many things that made successful WKU football here to stay.

Two other Conference USA kickers were named to the list – Louisiana Tech’s Kyle Fischer (18-for-23 in FG’s, 22-for-23 PAT’s in 2013) as well as UAB’s Ty Long, who was a kicker his freshman and sophomore years, but made the transition to punter last year, averaging 39.2 yards on five punts. The winner of the award will be announced on January 14th, 2015.