DJ Swearinger ranked 8th on 107.5 top Gamecock football player countdown
Gamecock football legend DJ Swearinger checked in at No. 8 in the recent 107.5 The Game fan poll ranking the top 30 South Carolina players of the last 30 years.
A former Tennessee Volunteer commitment, Swearinger committed to South Carolina out of Greenwood High School, where he was a two-way standout for Shell Dula. Swearinger played quarterback and wide receiver on offense and safety on defense. He was a Shrine Bowl selection as a senior after rushing for over 900 yards and 12 touchdowns in addition to 77 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
He played in all 13 games as a true freshman for Gamecock football in 2009 before taking a big leap during his sophomore campaign. Swearinger started eight games at both safety spots in Ellis Johnson’s defense. His first career start came against then-No. 1 Alabama, and Swearinger had nine tackles en route to an upset win for Carolina.
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During his final season in the Garnet and Black, Swearinger turned in a season that saw him garner second-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches, the AP, and Phil Steele. He tallied 79 tackles, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 recoveries. He had two scores on returns on defense as well.
All told, the Gamecock football defender played in 52 of a possible 53 games during his four-year career, starting 33 of those contests. He finished with 244 tackles and 6 interceptions, ultimately earning an invite to the Senior Bowl as well as the NFL Combine.
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Following his standout career in Columbia, Swearinger was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. After being selected 57th overall by the organization, Swearinger played two seasons for the club.
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The former Gamecock football big hitter also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts. Swearinger is currently a free agent but has nine seasons of NFL experience under his belt in total.
Off the field, Swearinger runs the “2Spoonz Foundation”, which supports youth initiatives in underserved communities. In 2021, Swearinger purchased the RL Stevens Center in his native Greenwood with the intent of refurbishing it into the “Swearinger Center” which will house arts, STEM, and after school programming for a community in need.
