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Swenson, Saunders Double Down on All-American Awards

Pete Swenson and Khalen Saunders are Associated Press and STATS FCS All-Americans.

MACOMB, Ill. – All-American honors have continued to roll in for Western Illinois' Pete Swenson and Khalen Saunders. The two were recently named to the Associated Press' FCS list and on Tuesday (Dec. 18), the WIU graduates were recognized as STATS FCS All-Americans. 

The Missouri Valley Football Conference had the most selections on the list with 17-student-athletes, and Saunders (defensive lineman) represented the Leathernecks as a first-team pick while Swenson (linebacker) was tabbed second team. 

A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the best defensive player in the FCS, Saunders was named First Team All-MVFC after accumulating 72 tackles, 13.0 for a loss, with 6.5 sacks. 

Together, he and Swenson recorded more than 20 sacks, and the latter tabbed 14.5 on his own to rank third in the nation. Swenson was also a First Team All-MVFC pick, leading the FCS in tackles for loss with 24.5 (109 yards lost) and 60 total tackles. 

The STATS FCS accolade comes a few days after the pair earned their bachelor's degrees in general studies. 
 
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