PLAYERS
2013 Football Guide
41
Chris Sullens
PUNTER 6-0 | 181 | So. | 1L Camdenton, Mo. | Camdenton High One of the top punters in the MVFC, Sullens will begin his second season as the Bears’ primary punter ... Averaged 41.3 yards on 3 punts in the Maroon and White Game (4/20/13), including a long of 51 yards.
2011: Missed the first four games of the season with an injury, but played the final 7 contests of the campaign ... Had a special teams tackle at No. 4 and eventual national champion North Dakota State (10/15/11) in the FargoDome ... Named MSU Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week for South Dakota State game (10/29/11) ... Landed on MVFC Honor Roll for third straight year and was also part of the prestigious MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll both semesters.
2012: Averaged 41.03 yards on 66 punts, which ranked fourth in the MVFC and 33rd nationally ... Helped the Bears rank 31st nationally in net punting (36.79) ... His 66 punts ranked tied for sixth on the MSU single-season list, and his average ranked eighth ... Named MSU Special Teams Player of the Week for games at No. 22 Kansas State (9/1/12), vs. South Dakota (10/13/12) and at UNI (11/17/12) ... His 47.2 punting average on six kicks at K-State was the fourth-best single-game average in MSU history and earned Sullens the first of three honorable mention nods in the CFPA National Special Teams Performer of the Week honors ... Also mentioned on the CFPA weekly list for the Murray State (9/15/12) and Indiana State (10/6/12) games ... College Sports Journal FCS Freshman of the Week honorable mention pick for the Indiana State game ... Had a season-long 70-yard punt at Indiana State and a 67-yarder at Kansas State ... Singlegame punt averages of 46.0 at Indiana State, 45.2 at UNI and 45.1 vs. Murray State were also notable ... Finished season with 14 punts of at least 50 yards and had at least one 50-yarder in 8-of-11 games ... Named by College Sports Madness as an all-conference third-team punter in the website’s postseason awards .... Punted for both teams in the Maroon and White Game (4/21/12) and punted 11 times for 418 yards (38.0) with a pair of 48-yard kicks and 5 downed inside the 20.
2010: Played in 8 games as a redshirt freshman ... Earned MSU Special Teams Player of the Week honors for games at Murray State (10/9/10) and at No. 16 Northern Iowa (11/13/10) ... Blocked a kick at Murray State (10/9/10) in which he was credited with a 14-yard return ... Posted a tackle at South Dakota State (11/6/10) ... Earned MVFC Honor Roll status for second year in a row and MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll both semesters.
2011: Tried out for the squad as a true freshman but did not make the Bears’ final fall roster ... Stayed committed to making the team and found a roster spot in the spring (2012) as the squad’s primary punter.
Personal: Matthew Timothy Swan was born 10/13/90 in Springfield, Mo. ... Son of Tim and Patty Swan of Springfield, Mo. ... Has three sisters, Kenzie, Rae and Marie ... Working on his Master’s in Business Administration.
High School: A three-sport standout at Camdenton (Mo.) High, Sullens played punter, wide receiver and defensive back for legendary Coach Bob Shore’s Lakers ... Earned Class 5 all-state honors as a senior in 2010 ... Had punts of 73 and 80 yards as a prep senior with the 80-yarder coming in the state quarterfinals against Kirkwood ... Also had 8 tackles against Kirkwood ... Was a three-year starter for CHS ... Started four seasons as a shooting guard on the Lakers’ basketball team and lettered twice in track. Personal: Chris A. Sullens was born 11/24/92 in Jefferson City, Mo. ... Son of Dale and Terri Sullens of Camdenton, Mo. ... Has a brother, Brandon and sister, Hannah ... Majoring in Sport and Park Administration.
CAREER STATS SUMMARY Year G No. Yds Avg Lg TB FC i20 50+ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2012 11 66 2708 41.0 70 6 19 14 22 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total 11 66 2708 41.0 70 6 19 14 22 Rushing: 1-4 (4.0). Tackles: 1.
82
CAREER HIGHS Punts: 9 (vs. Southern Ill., 9/22/12); Punt Avg.: 47.2 / 6 (at Kansas St., 9/1/12); Long: 70 (at Indiana St., 10/6/12).
HONORS CFPA National Special Teams Player of Week (HM): (9/1/12, 9/15/12, 10/6/12); College Sports Journal FCS Freshman of the Week (HM): (10/6/12); MSU Special Teams Player of Week: (9/1/12, 10/13/12, 11/17/12).
Matt Swan
TIGHT END 6-3 | 245 | Sr. | 3L Springfield, Mo. | Glendale High A fifth-year squad member, Swan has the ability to lead by example in 2013 as he will push for the starting tight end job this fall ... Capped spring 2013 workouts by snagging a 12-yard reception in the Maroon and White Game (4/20/13). 2012: Saw action in all 12 games as the Bears’ No. 2 tight end and a solid special teams performer ... Had receptions in both of the club’s FBS games -- a 7-yard grab at No. 22 Kansas State (9/1/12) and a 10-yard catch at No. 23 Louisville (9/8/12) ... Recorded 2 special teams tackles in home opener against Murray State (9/15/12) ... Blocked a kick at Indiana State (10/6/12) ... Named MSU Special Teams Player of the Week three times for games against Murray State, Indiana State and Western Illinois (10/27/12) ... Earned
30
MSU Special Teams Player of the Year honors from the coaching staff ... Named to MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll both semesters ... Graduated with a degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management in December 2012 ... ... Named to MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and MVFC Honor Roll ... Had 2 receptions in Maroon and White Game (4/21/12) and capped spring ball with 6 catches for 58 yards in three scrimmages.
www.MissouriStateBears.com
2009: Redshirted his first season at Missouri State ... Named to Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll for 2009 season ... Named to MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll both semesters. High School: A three-sport standout at Glendale High in Springfield, Mo., Swan missed the 2008 season with an injury ... The large-framed receiver and tight end garnered All-Ozarks Conference honors in 2007 for Coach Joel Heman’s Falcons and was also named to the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association team after scoring the game-winning touchdown to clinch the district title ... Helped the Falcons to consecutive district titles in 2006-07 and three straight playoff appearances ... Was also named to the All-Ozarks Conference Academic Team in 2007 and 2008 ... Scored 7 touchdowns in a single game in 2005 ... Also participated in basketball and track.
CAREER STATS SUMMARY Year G-GS TC Yds TD Rec Yds. Avg TD Lng -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2010 8-0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2011 7-0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2012 11-0 0 0 0 2 17 8.5 0 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total 26-0 0 0 0 2 17 8.5 0 10 100-Yard Rec. Games: 0. Tackles: 6. Blocked Kicks: 2.
39
HONORS MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award: 2012; MVFC Honor Roll: 2010, 2011, 2012; MVFC Honor Roll: (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). MSU Special Teams Player of the Year: 2012; MSU Special Teams Player of Week: (10/9/10, 11/13/10, 9/15/12, 10/6/12, 10/27/12); MSU Offensive Scout Team Player of Week: (10/29/11); MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll: (Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013).
Stacey Thornton
WIDE RECEIVER 5-8 | 165 | RFr. | 1SQ Festus, Mo. | Crystal City High Second-year squad member who came into his own this spring after a solid scout team effort as a true freshman ... Had 2 receptions for 62 yards, including a 58-yard pass from Ashton Glaser, in the Maroon and White Game (4/20/13). 2012: Redshirted his first season at Missouri State ... Earned MSU Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week laurels for games against Murray State (9/15/12) and Indiana State (10/6/12). HONORS High School: Was a two-sport standout MSU Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: (9/15/12, 10/16/12). at Crystal City (Mo.) High ... He helped Coach Ken Weik’s Hornets to an 8-3 campaign and state playoff appearance in 2011 ... Started four years in football, including a 7-5 run his junior year ... Was also a four-year starter in basketball. Personal: Stacey Allen Thornton was born 11/7/93 in Festus, Mo. ... Son of Stacey and Donna Thornton of Festus ... Has a sister, Alicia, and two brothers, Tryson and Jalen ... Undecided on major.
Missouri State