| 13 Bennett Swygert |
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Transfer from the University of South Carolina, coming to Western in January of 2004 ... After serving a majority of the 2004 season as the starter, sat out the 2005 season, giving his body time to recuperate after multiple surgeries on his knees and shoulder.
2005 (Jr.): Sat out after multiple surgeries on his knees and shoulder.
2004 (So.): Played in seven games, starting six ... Completed 64-of-123 passes for 573 yards and five touchdowns ... Started the first five games of the season before leaving the Furman contest with an injury ... Returned to the starting lineup for Western's upset of Appalachian State, only to leave that game with an injury ... Returned to the field on a limited basis the following week at The Citadel ... In his first game under center for the Cats, completed 8-of-12 passes with two touchdowns in a win over West Virginia State ... The following week, got WCU off to a 2-0 start by completing 12-of-24 passes for a season-high 170- yards in a win over nationally-ranked Nicholls State ... Over his next two games, at Alabama and Gardner-Webb, only completed 13-of-39 passes for 119 yards with three interceptions ... However, bounced back to complete 14-of-20 passes at Furman ... Was picking apart the Paladins with short passes and WCU seemed primed for an upset before Swygert left the game with a shoulder injury, forcing him to miss the next four games ... Returned to the starting lineup for the Appalachian State game ... Completed 17-of-26 passes for 102 yards with two TDs against the Apps before leaving with an injury ... Tried to gut-out a return a week later at The Citadel, but was 0-for-2 in limited action.
Prior to Western: A redshirt freshman for the University of South Carolina in 2003, playing in six games ... Completed 11-of-21 passes for 160 yards with an interception and a touchdown ... Versus eighth-ranked Georgia, he completed 4-of-5 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown ... Against Clemson, he had season highs with six completions and 11 attempts for 31 yards with a touchdown and his lone interception ... Added a six-yard rushing TD in a win over Virginia ... Battled for significant playing time prior to his true freshman year (2002), but would miss the entire season after tearing his ACL during a preseason scrimmage ... At Summerville HS: Was considered the top quarterback prospect in the state despite tearing ligaments in his knee late in his senior year ... He was selected to play in the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl after throwing for 1,232 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for 646 yards and five TDs, prior to the injury ... As a junior, threw for 1,678 yards and 28 TDs, while rushing for 398 yards and three scores ... An All-State and all-region pick, played for John McKissick at Summerville, who is the nation's winningest high school football coach.
