DJ Swearinger hosting annual celebrity charity basketball game

DJ Swearinger’s annual celebrity charity basketball game and halftime slam dunk contest is set to take place on April 15, 2022.

The former Gamecock football star’s event will take place at the Carolina Volleyball Center (1051 Blossom Street, Columbia, SC 29208), with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. EST and the game beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Fans and those interested in attending can purchase tickets here.

https://t.co/bHDPQpZxYM pic.twitter.com/BFmR4eFxCK

— DJ Swearinger (@JungleBoi_Swagg) April 3, 2022

Multiple greats from the South Carolina program are expected to be on hand for the event, including Deebo Samuel, Jadeveon Clowney, Pharaoh Cooper, Stephon Gilmore, Johnathan Joseph, Mike Davis, Melvin Ingram, and Jared Cook.

As a Gamecock football defensive back, Swearinger spent four seasons in the Garnet and Black, playing in 52 of 53 available games and starting 33. He recorded 244 tackles with 6 interceptions in total during his career.

A Greenwood native, Swearinger signed with the Gamecocks as part of the class of 2009 under Steve Spurrier. After his time in Columbia, he was a second round NFL Draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2013, the fifth safety selected overall that year. Swearinger also had stints on the rosters of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and New Orleans Saints. He most recently spent time on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts for the 2021 season.

Here’s more on Swearinger from his GamecocksOnline.com bio:

2012: Senior defensive back who was considered the biggest hitter of the defense and one of the team’s top playmakers… recognized as a second-team All-SEC performer by the coaches, the AP and Phil Steele… started all 12 games in which he appeared… credited with 79 tackles (second on the team), two interceptions including a 69-yard ‘pick-six’, a team-leading seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries including a 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles… credited with a pair of pass breakups in the season-opening win at Vanderbilt, including one on a fourth-down play on the Commodores’ final drive, securing the victory… had an interception in the win over East Carolina… grabbed a fumble and rambled 65 yards to paydirt in the win over UAB… earned a spot on Phil Steele’s second-team Midseason All-SEC squad… logged 10 tackles at LSU… credited with a team-leading 10 tackles including eight solo stops in the win over Tennessee… logged a season-best 13 stops including 10 solos against Arkansas and, with his 69-yard interception return for a score, was named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week and the SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week… logged a dozen tackles against Wofford, giving him 35 tackles over a three-game stretch… finished his career with a none-tackle performance against Michigan in the Outback Bowl… added two pass breakups and forced a fumble in that contest… played in 52 of the 53 games over the past four seasons, making 33 starts… recorded 244 tackles with six interceptions… invited to the Senior Bowl following the season… invited to the NFL Combine. 2011: Junior safety who ranked second on the team in tackles with 80, including 58 solo stops… tied for second on the team with three interceptions… started all 13 games… played the first two games of the season at strong safety, before moving to play the free safety spot for the rest of the season… had seven tackles against both Georgia and Navy… logged his first interception of the year vs. Kentucky… had the best game of his Gamecock career at Mississippi State… named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after totaling a career-best 12 tackles and intercepting a pass in the waning minutes of the game to preserve the 14-12 win… had his third pick in as many games when he intercepted a Tennessee pass near the goal line… credited with nine tackles against Florida and eight more against The Citadel… logged seven solo tackles and forced a key fumble in the Capital One Bowl win over Nebraska. 2010: Played in all 14 games, starting eight… played both the free and strong safety positions… fourth on the team with 66 tackles, including 2.0 for loss… credited with five pass breakups… also returned four kickoffs for a 21.8 yard average… had four tackles and a forced fumble at Auburn… tied for the team lead with a career-best nine tackles in win over No. 1 Alabama in first career start… posted seven tackles including a tackle for loss at Kentucky… had seven tackles coming off the bench versus Arkansas… made first start at strong safety vs. Florida and had six tackles and a pass breakup… picked off a pass vs. Troy and returned it 22 yards for his first career touchdown… had five tackles in the game. 2009: Solid contributor as a true freshman defensive back… played in all 13 games… logged 19 tackles, including 13 solo stops… had one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry… had three tackles against Alabama and three solo stops at Arkansas. HIGH SCHOOL: Two-way starter at Greenwood High while playing for Shell Dula… rushed for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior quarterback and caught 20 passes for 210 yards as a receiver… also logged 77 tackles, broke up eight passes and caused two fumbles as a safety… a second-team All-State selection by The State… had an interception in the Shrine Bowl Game of the Carolinas… logged 516 yards rushing and nine TDs with 93 tackles and an interception as a junior… rushed for 400 yards and logged 68 tackles and five interceptions as a sophomore… three-star prospect who was considered the 20th-best safety in the nation and the 14th-best prospect in the state of South Carolina by Rivals.com… a three-star prospect and the nation’s 82nd-best safety according to Scout.com… considered the state’s ninth-best player by SuperPrep… named to PrepStar’s All-Atlantic Region squad… originally committed to Tennessee and also had an offer from North Carolina among others.

DJ Swearinger is founder of 2Spoonz Foundation, which supports youth in underserved communities. Find out more at 2Spoonz.org

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