UAB's Swayze Waters Signs With Detroit Lions
Blazer kicker was all-conference punter and kicker
UABSPORTS.COM Waters has signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions.
UABSPORTS.COM
Waters has signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions.
 UABSPORTS.COM

April 27, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB's Swayze Waters, who became the first Conference USA player to earn all-league honors as a punter and placekicker in the same season last fall, has signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Detroit Lions.

Waters will report to Detroit's mini-camp this weekend, along with the other Lions' free agent signees and draft picks.

"I don't think it has sunk in yet," said Waters of signing with the Lions. "I don't think it will sink in until I go up there this weekend for the rookie camp."

Waters, from Jackson, Miss., finished his senior campaign in 2008 with 19 field goals in 24 attempts. His average of 1.58 field goals ranked No. 9 in the country, according to the final 2008 NCAA statistics.

He also handled the Blazers' punting duties for the second consecutive season and had a banner 2008 campaign as he averaged 43.6 yards per punt. In addition, he took care of kickoffs for UAB, the third consecutive year he's handled that.

Waters is hoping his versatility will be an asset for him once he gets to camp.

"I think it definitely helped me get into a camp," said Waters. "It's good to have options, but they're going to want me to do one or the other. I don't think there's anyone that does all three. So, just whatever they think I'll have the best chance to win a job, that's the one I'll focus on."

He concluded his UAB career in November with one of his finest performances as he connected on all five of his field goal attempts in the Blazers' 15-0 win against UCF in Orlando.

Waters was named first-team All-Conference USA as a punter and earned second-team all-league honors as a placekicker in a vote of C-USA's head coaches.

As a junior in 2007 when he hit 22-of-28 field goals, Waters was named the league's first-team placekicker by the media and was second-team by the coaches.

Waters finished his UAB career with 50 field goals in 64 tries. His career percentage of 78.1 is a UAB school record. His career average in two seasons as the team's regular punter was 42.4 yards per boot.