SID's Tab Swanson & Davis as All-Americans

12/15/2021 9:48:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – Junior safety Darius Swanson and junior quarterback TJ Davis represent Nebraska-Kearney football on the 2021 Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA) Division II All-American team.

This squad is chosen by sports information directors from around the country. A student-athlete has to be named all-region in order to be considered for All-American honors.

Swanson (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trial H.S.) made the first-team with Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo./Widefield) on the second-team. Since 1995 they become the 10th and 11th Lopers, respectively, to earn SID All-American honors.

Swanson had a breakout year as the Lopers starting strong safety. He led the team in tackles (98) and interceptions (four for 19 yards) while ranking second in pass breakups (seven) and tying for third in tackles for loss (5.0). Swanson had four games with a double-digit tackle total including 12 at both Northwest Missouri and Angelo State. Finally, he becomes UNK's first safety in the D2 era (1990-present) to earn any type of All-American honor.

Davis had a memorable season as part of the Lopers 10-3 playoff run. He had a hand in 40 touchdowns (21 passing, 18 rushing and one receiving), is currently the nation's second most efficient passer (183.3), ran for 1,151 yards and threw for 2,320 yards. Next, Davis broke his own school-record for rushing TD's by a QB in a season, became UNK's all-time leader in rushing TD's (41) and is one of just three Lopers to have multiple 1,000-rushing season in a career. Finally, the Harlon Hill Trophy finalist had four games with at least four TD's and eight straight games with at least two passes.

The other MIAA players to make the team were Fort Hays State tight end Hunter Budke (1st-team), Northwest Missouri linebacker Jackson Barnes, o-linemen Tanner Owen, running back Al McKeller and d-linemen Sam Roberts (1st-team) and Washburn return specialist James Letcher Jr. (1st-team).

Shepherd (W.V.) junior QB Tyson Bagent was named the Offensive Player of the Year with Bowie (Md.) State sophomore d-end Jonathan Ross named the Defensive Player of the Year. Bagent had 53 TD passes and threw for over 5,000 yards in leading the Rams to two playoff wins. Like Davis, he is one of eight Harlon Hill national finalists.

Lopers Daktronics/CCA/SID All-Americans
Yr.           Name/Position                      Hometown Team
1995       Matt Bruggeman (NG) Wayne 2nd
1997       Mike Smith (All-Purpose) Kearney 2nd
2002       Mike Miller (RB)                     Littleton, Colo.                 1st
2003       Richie Ross (WR)                   Lincoln 2nd
2005       Richie Ross (WR)                   Lincoln 1st
2009       Jack Hiett (C) Arvada, Colo. 2nd
2010       Orion Matthies (RT) Overton 2nd
2011       Arthur Hobbs (CB) San Diego, Calif. 1st
2011       Stephen Goodin (LT) Hastings 2nd
2016       Tyke Kozeal (LB) Sargent 1st
2021       Darius Swanson (S) Aurora, Colo. 1st
2021       TJ Davis (QB) Colorado Springs, Colo. 2nd

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