OSU's top 10 players of the 2000s: #4 - Bill Swancutt
A fierce pass rusher who holds the Oregon State record for career sacks is our pick for number four.
Bill Swancutt truly is one of the all-time great players at OSU. The defensive end out of Salem's Sprague high school recorded an eye-popping 37 career sacks, the most in Oregon State history. He's also the school's career leader in tackles for loss with 59.5.
Swancutt showed signs of greatness right away with the Beavers. In his limited playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2001, he picked up three sacks, and had the look of an elite pass rusher in the making.
That's exactly what he became as a sophomore. Swancutt harassed Pac-10 quarterbacks for 11.5 sacks, and he also made 21 tackles for loss. He was named honorable mention All-Pac-10 that year.
He followed up his fantastic 2002 campaign with an equally productive junior season. Swancutt picked up 11 more sacks and another 17.5 tackles for loss en route to another honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection.
He saved his finest season for his last in 2004. He made a career high 10 tackles against USC as the Beavers nearly threw a wrench in the Trojans' National Championship hopes.
In his final game at Reser Stadium, Swancutt went out on the ultimate high note. With both Oregon and Oregon State coming into the Civil War game at 5-5 and needing a win to clinch a bowl game, Swancutt did his part to make sure the Ducks spent the holidays at home. He sacked UO quarterback Kellen Clemens three times, and he even recorded his lone career interception on a botched shovel pass attempt as the Beavers cruised to a 50-21 victory.
Swancutt was honored as the Pac-10 Conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year with USC's Shaun Cody, and Swancutt became the first OSU player to ever be named a Player of the Year on either side of the ball since the award was created in 1975.
Swancutt went on to be selected in the sixth round - 184th overall - by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2005 NFL Draft.
