2012: Second year as NU's starting place-kicker ... Named Bakken-Anderson Big Ten Co-Kicker of the Year ... Became first NU kicker to be named first-team All-Big Ten (coaches) since Brian Gowins in 1997 ... Named one of 20 national semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top place-kicker ... Finished 19-for-20 on field goal tries--including a 6-of-7 success rate from 40 or more yards--to establish the NU single-season mark for field goal percentage (95.0) ... His 107 points are sixth-most by a Wildcat in school history and he now stands eighth all-time with 176 career points ... His 19 field goals in 2012 were one shy of the single-season mark of 20 held by Brian Gowins (1997) and Amado Villarreal (2008) ... Tied his own school record for consecutive PATs made in a single season (50) and enters 2013 with an active streak of 101 straight made PATs, fifth all-time in Big Ten annals (2010-present) ... Finished second in the Big Ten with 1.46 field goals per game ... Fourth in the conference in scoring with 8.23 points per game ... Provided game-winning PAT in NU's 42-41 season-opening win at Syracuse, putting the Wildcats in front for good with 44 seconds to play ... Against Vanderbilt, hit eventual game-winning 18-yard field goal with 2:01 remaining, finishing the game a perfect 3-of-3 with makes from 40, 37 and 18 yards in a 23-13 win ... It was his first career game with multiple made field goals ... Topped that performance a week later vs. Boston College by going 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, tying the NU school record for FGs in a single game ... Hit from 42, 20, 29, 41 and 19 yards in 22-13 victory over the Eagles en route to Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors ... His five field goals are one of eight performances in FBS this year of five or more in a game ... Converted all five PAT attempts in win over South Dakota ... Accounted for 14 points in win over Indiana with three field goals (44, 34 and 29 yards) and five PATs ... 4-of-4 on extra points vs. both Nebraska and Iowa ... Connected on a 34-yard field goal attempt and all four PATs at Michigan ... Finished 3-of-3 on field goal tries (24, 43, 27 yards) at Michigan State, including the game-winner with 7:30 remaining that broke a 20-20 tie ... Hit 2-of-2 field goals (44, 36 yards) and kicked six PATs in win over Illinois (12 points) ... Accounted for 10 points in TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl win vs. Mississippi State, hitting field goal attempts from 34 and 37 yards ... Named team's Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Vandy, Boston College and Indiana ... Twice named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week (BC, Indiana) ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2011: First-year starting place-kicker ... Led all Big Ten players with his 50-of-50 PAT mark ... Had a successful debut, booting a 43-yard field for NU's first season points at Boston College ... Missed his first collegiate FG try (45 yards) vs. Eastern Illinois, but successfully converted all six PAT boots ... Drilled a 20-yard field goal vs. Michigan, as well as all three PAT kicks ... Converted a career-long 47-yard field goal at Iowa and all four PAT kicks for a seven-point game ... Hit a 25-yard field goal vs. Penn State ... Drilled a 37-yard field goal and all eight PAT kicks vs. Indiana to remain perfect (34-of-34 PAT's) for the season ... Totaled a career-best 11 points against the Hoosiers ... Scored four points (all PAT kicks) at Nebraska and vs. Rice (all PAT kicks) ... Drilled all four PAT kicks vs. Minnesota ... Converted both PAT kicks vs. Texas A&M in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas to finish a perfect season for PAT kicks (50-of-50) ... Also booted a 34-yard FG versus the Spartans ... Tied for second in team scoring with 5.23 ppg (tied with Jeremy Ebert) ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
2010: Saw first collegiate action versus Illinois State, converting a PAT kick.
2009: Did not see action.
High School: 2008 MaxPreps first-team All-America kicker ... 2008 EA SPORTS second-team All-America kicker ... Garnered first-team SuperPrep All-America honors in 2007 ... Two-time first-team Associated Press all-state selection ... Rivals.com All-Region ... Ranked seventh among all players in the state of Wisconsin by Rivals.com ... Ranked seventh-best kicker nationally by Rivals.com and 19th-best kicker nationally by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. ... Lettered three years and was a team captain for the Warhawks ... In 2008 (senior season), booted 8-of-11 field goals (no misses under 50 yards and a season-long 55-yarder) and 63-of-65 PAT's, and 70 of his 88 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks ... Helped lead Arrowhead to a three-year record of 39-3 and a state title his junior season when the Warhawks went 14-0 and were ranked among the nation's top 30 teams ... Warhawks finished as the Division I state runners-up in 2006 and 2008 ... Converted 65-of-66 PAT's and 6-of-11 FG's his junior year, while 71 of his 98 kickoffs went for touchbacks ... Two-time first-team Classic 8 All-Conference honoree ... Selected to play in Wisconsin's North-South All-Star game on July 18, 2009 ... Named to school's Honor Roll all four years ... Coached by Tom Taraska.
Personal: Born Jeffrey Shane Budzien ... Son of Katie Petroff and Bill Budzien ... Family friend with David Merkow, former NU student-athlete and the 2006 Big Ten Golfer of the Year ... Economics major and business institutions minor.
The Budzien File
Q: Name five favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: Dive In - Dave Matthews Band; Grey Street- Dave Matthews Band; Demons - Guster; My Dougie - Lil' Will; You're a Jerk - New Boyz
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be and why?
A: This is pretty easy - I would dine with Jesus. Not only is he my savior, but he would let me pick the restaurant. I don't know who would pay the bill, though.
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: My dad told me this quote when I was younger, and I say it every night before I go to bed:
"I complained I had no shoes until I met the man who had no feet." When I feel sorry for myself about waking up early or studying for exams, this quote reminds me how lucky I am.
Q: Something people would be surprised to know about me is:
A: I have a rocket arm... if we ever got down past our fourth-string QB, I'd definitely volunteer to play.
Q: My favorite place to visit is and why?
A: My favorite place to visit is Destin, Fla., with my family. That is our annual vacation spot and always gives us sunny skies and sandy beaches.
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team and why?
A: The biggest jokester on the team is Brandon Williams. As if I don't see him enough during the day (both of us being specialists), I'm living with him next year. He has a very wry sense of humor. And the best part is he can make fun of himself.
Q: My favorite thing about NU is and why?
A: The prestige of the school. Everywhere I go, people compliment the university and have nothing but positive things to say.
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: Building relationships with the players, coaches, and support staff. I've met hundreds of people I wouldn't have met if I didn't play football, and these people have helped me grow enormously. (In addition to beating Wisconsin)
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Intense, Winner
Q: Most humbling experience:
A: Going from `the guy' in high school to bottom of the totem pole freshman year.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest achievement and why?
A: Earning a Big Ten scholarship. The number of scholarships offered to kickers are so limited, so it was a great honor to receive one from Northwestern.
Q: The best book I have ever read is and why?
A: The New Testament. It's the only book that I've read that has made a significant impact on my life.
Q: The person that inspires me the most is:
A: My brother. He works so hard in everything he does and always puts things into perspective.
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be:
A: I started kicking in eighth grade... so I didn't pretend to be anybody in particular. All I know is that I didn't pretend to be a kicker with a 1-bar facemask.
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Watch kicking clips of Taylor Mehlhaff and Carson Wiggs on my phone. My best results come when I try to mirror what they do.
Q: If you could have a starring role in any film already made, which movie would you pick and why?
A: Easy--Maverick in Top Gun
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Beef Jerky ... or Buffalo Wild Wings
Q: Best thing about Northwestern is:
A: The networking, post-graduate opportunities and famous alumni
Q: My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be:
A: Hitting a game winning field goal as time expired in the Rose Bowl. Or completely leveling a returner on a kickoff, but that likely won't happen. So yeah, I'd say hitting a game-winning field goal.
Q: My favorite television show is and why?
A: The Office. That show is hilarious.
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Sleeping in.
Q: My football-related superstition is:
A: I used to have a couple superstitions until I realized my results had no correlation to any superstition. Now, I just go out on the field, have fun, and am 100% confident I'll do my job.
Q: If the Big Ten expands, pick one school you'd like to see added and why?
A: Florida. Not only would that be a nice away game in the end of the year (weather wise), but I think the `Gator Chomp' motion is pretty intimidating and would be fun to see.
Q: Which FORMER NU football student-athlete has had the most impact on your Wildcat career and why?
A: It's a tossup between Brew (Andrew Brewer), Woody (Mark Woodsum), Nuss (James Nussbaum) and Zeke (Markshausen). They probably don't know the impact they've had on my life, but they really helped me get through freshman year. They've taught me that there's a lot more to this world than football.
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