Education
A native of Houston, Texas, Swanson attended Kingwood High School, where he was coached by Dougald McDougald. Swanson chose Arkansas over offers from Arizona, Kansas, and Texas Technology
A native of Houston, Texas, Swanson attended Kingwood High School, where he was coached by Dougald McDougald. Swanson chose Arkansas over offers from Arizona, Kansas, and Texas Technology
He was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arkansas. During his senior year, he graded out at 84% on the season.
He was also a first-team all-state selection by the writers and a second-team honoree by the coaches.
Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Swanson was ranked as the Number. 73 offensive tackle prospect in the class of 2009, which was highlighted by Doctorate. J. Fluker and Mason Walters.
After being redshirted as a freshman in 2009, he took over as the Razorbacks starting center in 2010. The Razorbacks, who started the same offensive line every game, broke 24 game or season school records on offense in 2010.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett set the Arkansas single-season passing yards record with 3,869 and running back Knile Davis posted the fourth-highest single-season rushing yards total in program history with 1,322 yards.
Arkansas finished the season first in the Securities and Exchange Commission and fourth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association in passing (3337), becoming just the third team since 1992 to lead the conference in passing in consecutive seasons. Swanson was named to the Securities and Exchange Commission All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Swanson started every game at center for a Razorback offense that led the Securities and Exchange Commission in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense to become just the fifth different school, and first since 2001, to lead the conference in all three categories in a single season and became the sixth team in conference history, and second since 1992, to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission in passing offense for three straight seasons.
In his junior year, Swanson was named team captain and started all 12 games at center in an offensive line that allowed 1.0 or fewer sacks in eight games in 2012 and ranked third in the Securities and Exchange Commission with an average of just 1.58 sacks allowed per game.
Swanson was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference (Securities and Exchange Commission) selection, and a first-team All-American by United States of America Today, making him just the third center in program history to earn All-American honors, joining Jonathan Luigs in 2007 and Rodney Brand in 1969. 2014 NFL Draft
Swanson was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round (76th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.
On December 28, 2014, Swanson made his first career start at center against the Green Bay Packers. On January 2. 2016, Swanson was placed on injury reserve.