Tears welled up in Trevyn Smith's eyes.
“Are you crying?”
“Shut up," Smith said.
What could bring the former Weber State running back, the guy who become just the third player in the 47-year history of the Big Sky Conference to earn First Team All-Conference honors four straight seasons?
A football game.
Specifically, one person's performance.
When Springville beat Timpview in the quarterfinals of the state 4A tournament this year, the performance turned in by Brody Swanson left Smith an emotional wreck.
Swanson had two sacks and nine tackles against Timpview and had four carries for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Big-time players come up big in big-time games.
“He's willing to what ever asked and do it 100 percent. He wants the ball in crucial situations and he delivers," said Springville coach Scott Mitchell. “He's worked really hard the last three years. He started out as a quarterback and about quit. He said, 'Coach I just want to play. I don't care where.' So we tried him at free safety and some other positions, he just fit at defensive end. He loved it and it fits his personality. He just goes all out.”
Swanson helped end Timpview's drive for five straight 4A state titles. It was one of his better efforts on the year, but it wasn't out of the ordinary. Swanson was exceptional all season and as a result he was named Daily Herald Valley Player of the Year.
“I don't even know what to say. I'm shocked and very excited. I've dreamed about this honor. Thank you," Swanson said after being told he was the Valley Player of the Year. “I remember last year when Ofa Latu (Timpview) was named the Valley Player of the Year and then he committed to Utah. I thought that was really cool and have thought about it since then."
Swanson had 101 tackles in 2010. He recorded 15.5 sacks and scored two defensive touchdowns, one on a fumble return and one on an interception return. On offense, he caught 12 passes for 163 yards and was the team's quarterback in the wildcat formation. He finished with 11 carries for 165 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Swanson helped Springville to a Region 8 title and a 10-2 overall record. Springville opened the state tournament with a 35-14 win over Olympus and then upset Timpview, handing the T'Birds their first loss of the season by a score of 37-28.
The Red Devils had little left in the following week against Highland, a team that went on to win the state championship. Highland beat Springville 46-21 to end the Red Devils’ playoff run.
Now that the season is over, pride has taken away much of the road rash the team felt in the loss to Highland.
“It was a disappointing way to end the season. I guess in the end to win a state championship you have to beat Springville," Swanson said.
Springville's only two losses in each of the last years were to the eventual 3A and 4A state champions.
Swanson started as a freshman on his high school team in American Falls, Idaho, but playing 3A football in Idaho wasn't going to get him the exposure he wanted to play college football. Swanson's sister married Smith and shortly thereafter Smith urged Swanson to move to Springville to live with his parents.
It turned out to be a good move. Swanson played special teams as a sophomore and had designs on playing quarterback, but in an effort to get on the field moved to tight end and defensive end as a junior. He also hit the weight room. Smith's younger brother, Daryk, who also played football for Springville, is a personal trainer for Gold's Gym.
Swanson is now 6-3, 252 pounds. His max bench is 355 His squat is 455. At his peak he benched 225 pounds a whopping 23 times.
“He's one of those kids that always wants the ball. He's like Marcus Case. They want the ball in tough situations, but they aren't cocky about it," said Randy Rehrer, Springville’s offensive coordinator. “He just believes he can get it done. He did a lot of things for us. As a tight end he was a very good blocker and he ran good routes. He was also very good for us when we ran the Wildcat."
Swanson's season might by over but not his career. He's in the gym five days a week preparing for next year. He says he's had one scholarship offer from Southern Utah and could have another one soon from Utah State.
“BYU talked to me yesterday and told me that they liked me, but they said they didn't have any scholarships and asked me to do a preferred walk-on and then next year maybe I could get one," Swanson said. “I don't want to walk-on somewhere. I really want to be able to say I got a Division I scholarship."
Swanson may not know where he's playing yet, but he will play somewhere. College coaches are beginning to see what those who know him have already seen — given a chance he will be an MVP.
So proud of my baby brother, can't believe he's so grown up and grown up to be such a freakin stud!
“Are you crying?”
“Shut up," Smith said.
What could bring the former Weber State running back, the guy who become just the third player in the 47-year history of the Big Sky Conference to earn First Team All-Conference honors four straight seasons?
A football game.
Specifically, one person's performance.
When Springville beat Timpview in the quarterfinals of the state 4A tournament this year, the performance turned in by Brody Swanson left Smith an emotional wreck.
Swanson had two sacks and nine tackles against Timpview and had four carries for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Big-time players come up big in big-time games.
“He's willing to what ever asked and do it 100 percent. He wants the ball in crucial situations and he delivers," said Springville coach Scott Mitchell. “He's worked really hard the last three years. He started out as a quarterback and about quit. He said, 'Coach I just want to play. I don't care where.' So we tried him at free safety and some other positions, he just fit at defensive end. He loved it and it fits his personality. He just goes all out.”
Swanson helped end Timpview's drive for five straight 4A state titles. It was one of his better efforts on the year, but it wasn't out of the ordinary. Swanson was exceptional all season and as a result he was named Daily Herald Valley Player of the Year.
“I don't even know what to say. I'm shocked and very excited. I've dreamed about this honor. Thank you," Swanson said after being told he was the Valley Player of the Year. “I remember last year when Ofa Latu (Timpview) was named the Valley Player of the Year and then he committed to Utah. I thought that was really cool and have thought about it since then."
Swanson had 101 tackles in 2010. He recorded 15.5 sacks and scored two defensive touchdowns, one on a fumble return and one on an interception return. On offense, he caught 12 passes for 163 yards and was the team's quarterback in the wildcat formation. He finished with 11 carries for 165 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Swanson helped Springville to a Region 8 title and a 10-2 overall record. Springville opened the state tournament with a 35-14 win over Olympus and then upset Timpview, handing the T'Birds their first loss of the season by a score of 37-28.
The Red Devils had little left in the following week against Highland, a team that went on to win the state championship. Highland beat Springville 46-21 to end the Red Devils’ playoff run.
Now that the season is over, pride has taken away much of the road rash the team felt in the loss to Highland.
“It was a disappointing way to end the season. I guess in the end to win a state championship you have to beat Springville," Swanson said.
Springville's only two losses in each of the last years were to the eventual 3A and 4A state champions.
Swanson started as a freshman on his high school team in American Falls, Idaho, but playing 3A football in Idaho wasn't going to get him the exposure he wanted to play college football. Swanson's sister married Smith and shortly thereafter Smith urged Swanson to move to Springville to live with his parents.
It turned out to be a good move. Swanson played special teams as a sophomore and had designs on playing quarterback, but in an effort to get on the field moved to tight end and defensive end as a junior. He also hit the weight room. Smith's younger brother, Daryk, who also played football for Springville, is a personal trainer for Gold's Gym.
Swanson is now 6-3, 252 pounds. His max bench is 355 His squat is 455. At his peak he benched 225 pounds a whopping 23 times.
“He's one of those kids that always wants the ball. He's like Marcus Case. They want the ball in tough situations, but they aren't cocky about it," said Randy Rehrer, Springville’s offensive coordinator. “He just believes he can get it done. He did a lot of things for us. As a tight end he was a very good blocker and he ran good routes. He was also very good for us when we ran the Wildcat."
Swanson's season might by over but not his career. He's in the gym five days a week preparing for next year. He says he's had one scholarship offer from Southern Utah and could have another one soon from Utah State.
“BYU talked to me yesterday and told me that they liked me, but they said they didn't have any scholarships and asked me to do a preferred walk-on and then next year maybe I could get one," Swanson said. “I don't want to walk-on somewhere. I really want to be able to say I got a Division I scholarship."
Swanson may not know where he's playing yet, but he will play somewhere. College coaches are beginning to see what those who know him have already seen — given a chance he will be an MVP.
