Swift’s opportunity

Last season the University of Toledo’s football team was plagued with injuries in its secondary with both seniors Cheatham Norrils and Cameron Cole missing the entire 2014 season and former Rocket Jordan Haden going out in the second game of the season against Missouri.

Their misfortunes would open the door for an unlikely candidate who was prepared to make an impact on the field — and he did.

As a redshirt sophomore walk-on, Connery Swift was given the chance he had been working towards: an opportunity to play division 1 football.

“With those injuries and having to step up I kept a focused mindset and was ready for my opportunity,” Swift said. “I feel like I made the best of them when I was needed to come in and help the team. I would come in every day with the mindset of, ‘let me get something out of today and do everything to the best of my ability to keep working to my goal.’”

Swift would play in all 13 games and started the final three games, racking up 16 tackles by the end of the 2014 season. His hard work and contributions did not go unnoticed as he earned a full Athletic scholarship in the offseason.

“We had player-coach meetings after the bowl game and I had my meeting with Coach [Matt] Campbell,” Swift said. “That was the first thing he said to me and it was very emotional. It was something I’ve been working for and something I came into the mindset of trying to get.

“Just hearing those words was just truly a blessing.”

But the journey to becoming a scholarship player isn’t an easy one, especially being a walk-on.

The Waynesboro, Va. native played his high school ball at Wilson Memorial High School. He earned all-state honors as a senior rushing for 1,914 yards with 31 touchdowns but still struggled to get the Division 1 looks he desired.

“Out of high school I had a lot of looks,” Swift said. “At the end of my senior year of high school nothing was really put on the table for me so I had to take a look at the Division 2 offers coming my way.”

He started his collegiate career at the University of Virginia-Wise where he led the team in rushing with 671 and five touchdowns and was named all-conference honorable mention.

“After being at Wise that first semester I started contacting coaches,” Swift said. “I talked to Coach [D.K.] McDonald who had recruited me to go to William and Mary, he was now at Toledo. He told me he could offer me a [preferred] walk-on offer with a chance to earn a scholarship in the future

“So I decided to take that risk and roll with it.”

Swift would arrive in Toledo for the 2013 season where he had to sit out because of NCAA transfer policies.

“I really took the mindset of, ‘okay I can’t play this year so any type of opportunity or chance I get to work I’m going to take it,’” he said. “So being on scout team I used that as a chance to just get better.”

The rigors of going up against the number-one offense day in and day out is no simple task. But being a walk-on, not getting those monthly scholarship checks and paying your way through school takes a toll on you mentally.

“Walk-on life is a tough life to live,” Swift said. “I had to count on my family and a lot of guys here also helped me get through the process by just letting me know if you keep working and take advantage of any opportunity you get, good things will come.”

His journey to a scholarship may be complete but his hard work hasn’t stopped. He entered the 2015 season as the starting nickel back corner in the Rockets’ defense — a long way from scout team.

“It’s been a journey for me,” Swift said. “Starting at D2, making the transfer, walking-on and then to get that scholarship — a lot has been put in to get that scholarship.

“I’m just thankful to be able to play for this team.”