Anthony McSwain (born February 21, 1961) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. He played college football at Clemson University.
| No. 35, 32 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 21, 1961 Rutherford County, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 193 lb (88 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Chase (NC) | ||||||
| College: | Clemson | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1983 / round: 5 / pick: 135 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Early life
editMcSwain attended Chase High School in North Carolina, where he was an All-American fullback and also played linebacker on defense.[1] He lettered in basketball and track.[2] His number 35 was retired by the school.
He accepted a football scholarship from Clemson University and became a starter as a freshman, in place of an injured Lester Brown.[3] He finished with 443 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.[4] Including 120 yards on 18 carries versus Duke University. He was named the conference's rookie of the year.
In 1980, he was the team's second leading rusher with 544 yards, including 272 yards on 37 attempts (6.8-yard average) in the final three games.
He was a slashing type of a runner. In his last two years, he would form with co-starter tailback Cliff Austin a dynamic duo in a backfield known as the "McBackfield", that also included fullback Jeff McCall.
In 1981, he had a career-best 692 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, including a single-game career-high of 151 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries, in a season-ending 29–13 victory over the University of South Carolina to cap an 11–0 record.[5] In the Orange Bowl, although he had only 14 rushing yards, he made a key 10-yard run during the drive that helped Clemson defeat Nebraska University for an unbeaten season and the national championship.
As a senior, he posted 641 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Against North Carolina State University, he registered 14 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown. He finished his college career with 2,320 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 483 carries.
He also practiced track and field, running the first leg of the 1980 ACC champion 4 × 100 metres relay team.
Professional career
editDallas Cowboys
editMcSwain was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft. He was also selected by the Washington Federals in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft.
In his first career pre-season appearance, he had a game to remember against the Miami Dolphins, scoring 2 touchdowns in less than 2 minutes (including a 67-yard touchdown screen pass reception).[6] After the first regular season game, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a torn tendon in his right ring finger and was replaced with Gary Allen.[7] The next year, he posted 20 kickoff returns for 403 yards. He was waived before the start of the 1985 season.
Los Angeles Raiders
editIn 1986, he signed with the Los Angeles Raiders as a free agent and was cut on July 28.[8]
New England Patriots
editAfter the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. McSwain was signed to be a part of the New England Patriots replacement team.[9] He was a backup player and registered 23 rushing yards, before being released at the end of the strike.
Personal life
editMcSwain works as an athletic director and track coach at Chase High School in North Carolina. He was born into a family of 13 children. His brother Rod McSwain also played in the NFL for the New England Patriots.
References
edit- ^ "Chase's McSwain Player Of Week". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Chase Seeks To Improve". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Tigers Seek Ball Control". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "McSwain Clan Is A Boon To Chase". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Clemson Tops South Carolina". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Rookie McSwain New Dallas Hero". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "The Dallas Cowboys Thursday signed running back Gary Allen". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "Cowboys let McSwain go". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ "One McSwain pickets, the other plays". Retrieved April 30, 2018.