Dwight Freeney

Bio

Dwight Freeney holds the NCAA record for career sacks per game and unnerved opposing quarterbacks while leading the Orange to three bowl berths and authoring one of the best defensive careers in Syracuse football history. Freeney was a unanimous First Team All-America in 2001 and a finalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi, and Nagurski awards. He holds the NCAA record for career sacks per game (1.61), and finished his career as the NCAA leader in single-season sacks with 17.5 in 2001. He had eight forced fumbles in 2001 while averaging.67 forced fumbles per game that season. His 4.5 sacks against Virginia Tech on Oct. 21, 2000, set a conference record. The 2001 team captain and MVP, Freeney currently holds school records for career (50.5) and single season tackles for loss (25.5 in 2001) and forced fumbles in a career (14). He finished his career with 104 tackles and 34 sacks, second only to College Football Hall of Famer Tim Green on Syracuse's all-time list. Syracuse won two of their three bowl appearances during Freeney’s tenure, including a 20-13 win over Kentucky in the 1999 Music City Bowl and a 26-3 victory over Kansas State in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl. During his four seasons in upstate New York, he helped guide Syracuse to a 31-17 record, including a No. 25 final national ranking in 1998 and the No. 14 spot in 2001. A two-time unanimous First Team All-Big East performer and a two-time First Team All-ECAC selection, Freeney helped Syracuse claim the 1998 Big East title. He shared Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors with College Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed (Miami, FL) in 2001.

Career Highlights

• 2001 All-Conference
• 2001 Conference MVP
• 2001 Heisman - Ninth
• 2001 Unanimous All-America
• 2000 All-Conference