BY ADAM ZUVANICH
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

If his name was Nate Slow, he’d still be one of the best wide receivers Nebraska has ever had.

But a name like Swift sure is fitting, especially for a guy with sheer speed and explosive quickness.

“A lot of people say that,” said Swift, who ranks among the Cornhuskers’ all-time leaders in career receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. “Obviously, it’s great to have a last name like that and be a football player, too.”

Swift, a three-year letterman with 21 career starts, might not surpass the school receiving records set by Johnny Rodgers — the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner. But five games into his senior season, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Minnesotan is making a pretty good run at those marks.

Swift, the only Nebraska player with at least 20 catches in four straight seasons, ranks second behind Rodgers with 1,839 career receiving yards, and he’s third on the career lists with 123 receptions and 15 TDs. He needs 10 more touchdowns to match Rodgers’ mark of 25, but the other records are within reach. Swift needs only 20 receptions over the next seven games to equal Rodgers, who has a 640-yard cushion in career receiving yards.

Swift doesn’t seem too concerned with his individual statistics, saying he wasn’t sure where he stood. But one of his teammates, senior quarterback Joe Ganz, said Swift is motivated by his place in Nebraska history.

“Really, he just strives to be great,” said Ganz, a former roommate of Swift’s. “He wants to have records and be known as one of the best wide receivers to ever come through here.”

Swift is making quite an impact this season for the ‘Huskers (3-2, 0-1 Big 12 Conference), who will face No. 7 Texas Tech (5-0, 1-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. He has a team-high 304 receiving yards and three TDs, and he’s also excelling on special teams.

Swift is averaging 26 yards per punt return, and he returned one 88 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a loss to Virginia Tech two weeks ago.

First-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has been impressed, saying Swift has “played outstanding football” and is having a “heck of a year so far.”

“This year he’s definitely one of our biggest play-makers — on offense and special teams,” said Ganz, who added that Swift’s intensity and instincts on the field set him apart. “He’s somebody I always look for.”

Swift said the punt return against Virginia Tech was “probably my most exciting touchdown,” and he hopes he and Nebraska’s other return men can make some similar plays against the Red Raiders. Sophomore Niles Paul is averaging more than 26 yards per kickoff return, and he took one to the house in the Cornhuskers’ 35-12 win over San Jose State.

One or two special-teams scores certainly would be a boost to the ’Huskers, who were 201/2-point underdogs as of Wednesday.

“That’s definitely one of our goals each game is to do something on special teams,” Swift said. “It helps out the offense and defense and can change the game in our favor.”

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