Swain Named 1st Team All-America
By: Brad Fralick
Updated: December 12, 2007
CANYON, Texas - Following a standout junior campaign during which he emerged as one of the most potent pass rushing forces in the country, West Texas A&M defensive end Brandon Swain has been selected to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association Division II All-America Team.
Swain was a pleasant surprise during his first season in Canyon, leading the conference in sacks (14), tackles for loss (24.5), quarterback hurries (12), forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3). The Tulsa, Okla., native was selected Lone Star Conference Defensive lineman of the Year and a regional finalist for the Gene Upshaw award, which is given annually to Division II’s top lineman. He posted multiple sacks in three games on the year and posted a career-high 10 tackles in the Buffs’ season opening win over No. 9 South Dakota. Swain scored his first career touchdown in WT’s playoff contest at Northwest Missouri State as he intercepted a batted ball and returned the pick 18 yards for a Buff score.
The AFCA team, which only names a first team, is the first of several All-America squads that will be announced in the coming weeks and Swain as well as several other Buff standouts are in contention for more post season honors. The selection is the first to the AFCA team for a West Texas A&M player since Pat McCoy was selected following the 2005 campaign. The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
Article Courtesy: www.gobuffsgo.com
Swain was a pleasant surprise during his first season in Canyon, leading the conference in sacks (14), tackles for loss (24.5), quarterback hurries (12), forced fumbles (5) and fumbles recovered (3). The Tulsa, Okla., native was selected Lone Star Conference Defensive lineman of the Year and a regional finalist for the Gene Upshaw award, which is given annually to Division II’s top lineman. He posted multiple sacks in three games on the year and posted a career-high 10 tackles in the Buffs’ season opening win over No. 9 South Dakota. Swain scored his first career touchdown in WT’s playoff contest at Northwest Missouri State as he intercepted a batted ball and returned the pick 18 yards for a Buff score.
The AFCA team, which only names a first team, is the first of several All-America squads that will be announced in the coming weeks and Swain as well as several other Buff standouts are in contention for more post season honors. The selection is the first to the AFCA team for a West Texas A&M player since Pat McCoy was selected following the 2005 campaign. The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. What makes these teams so special is that they are the only ones chosen exclusively by the men who know the players the best — the coaches themselves.
The five teams now chosen for each AFCA division evolved from a single 11-player squad in 1945. From 1945 until 1967, only one team was chosen. From 1967 through 1971, two teams, University Division and College Division, were selected. In 1972, the College Division was split into College I and College II. In 1979, the University Division was split into two teams — FBS and FCS. In 1996, the College I and College II teams were renamed Division II and Division III respectively. In 2006, the AFCA started selecting an NAIA-only team.
Article Courtesy: www.gobuffsgo.com
