Anytime a team is undefeated at the halfway mark of the regular season, there is no question specific players will garner national spotlight and media attention due to their on-field performances or high profile position.
Other players, ones who still play a large role in a team’s success but from a less popular position, often go unmentioned in game recaps and are unheralded by the general public.
This perfectly describes Baker Swedenburg, a junior punter for Mississippi State University, who is having an outstanding season for the Bulldogs.
With the Bulldogs being undefeated and currently ranked No. 12 in the BCS, Swedenburg, a native of Columbus has been nothing less than magnificent when his number is called. The junior has averaged 40.7 yards on 26 punts, 11 of which have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
Last Saturday’s game against the Tennessee Volunteers epitomized the punter’s first-half performance when Swedenburg had punts downed at the 12-yard line and the 4-yard line during the fourth quarter of the SEC contest.
Head coach Dan Mullen said Swedenburg’s punts were crucial in the game.
“We made plays in the kicking game when we needed it,” Mullen said. “We had some big punts.”
In MSU’s last four games, Swedenberg has placed four punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. On the season, the junior has forced 12 fair catches by the opposition and has three punts of over 50 yards.
Another shining aspect of Swedenburg’s skill set is the amount of hang time on the junior’s punts. MSU ranks second nationally with negative four punt return yards allowed.
This feat is largely due to Swedenburg, who adds height to his punts as well as distance, which allows his teammates to run downfield before a return can be made.
Although he is only a junior, Swedenburg is easily one of the most veteran players on State’s special teams unit. The punter said he attributes his success to his experience and maturity as a player.
“Going out there and doing it a bunch of times really helps me,” Swedenburg said. “If I let it, I can get myself worked up. But (my experience) helps me control those nerves.”
As an upperclassman with multiple years of in-game experience, Swedenburg also plays a vital role in the development and maturation of younger kickers on MSU’s special teams. Having now played in 19 games at MSU, Swedenburg’s maturity has had a direct impact on Devon Bell, a true freshman place kicker who has made eight field goals midway through his first collegiate season.
Bell, whose performance has progressed with each game, said Swedenburg keeps him focused during games and is a source of motivation for the young kicker.
“He’s one of the main reasons why I’ve been so calm lately,” Bell said. “Going into the first game, he could tell I was a little nervous, he just gave me some advice on what to do and how to approach each kick. He’s been a big benefit to me.”
Swedenburg succeeds off the field as much as he does on the field. He is currently in graduate school, where he said he hopes to obtain multiple degrees involving computers and information technologies.
Surprisingly, the punter said while his studies have increased in difficulty, balancing schoolwork and football has become simpler over time. 
“I would say it’s almost easier now,” Swedenburg said. “It’s more time consuming, but I really think my undergrad helped with that.”
Once his career at MSU comes to a close, Swedenburg said he hopes to pursue a career playing football professionally. Punting in the NFL will certainly be a possibility, but Swedenburg said he is keeping all options open when looking at the future.
“I’ve got one more season left, and then I’ll pursue the NFL,” Swedenburg said. “I’m not going to put all of my eggs in one basket. I’m really flexible, and I want to keep my options broad.”