Scouting Profile:
Tyler Swart – QB, Missouri S&T Miners
6’4″, 260 lbs
Great Lakes Valley Conference
2018 Stats: 212/331, 2,936 yards, 29 tds, 10 ints
2018 Record: 10-2 (Mineral Water Bowl Champions)
Bowl Game Stats: 13/22, 212 yards, 4 tds, 0 ints, 1 rushing td
School Records: Attempts, Completions, Completion %, Yards, and Touchdowns
Tyler Swart’s been chasing the dream of playing professional football for a long time. His family moved from New York to Texas (a/k/a the Mecca of High School Football) when Tyler was in high school in order to give him a better opportunity. And the move paid off. After a prolific career at Division II Missouri Science & Tech, where he set several school passing records, and which culminated in a convincing 51-16 win in the Mineral Water Bowl over Minnesota State-Moorhead, Tyler is keeping the dream alive, and working to get to the next level. But first, he faces his biggest challenge yet: an interview with the Big Red Sports Machine. We fired up the Big Red Sports Machine conference call to talk with Tyler about his career and what lies ahead.
Tyler, congrats on an amazing collegiate career. Talk to us a little about your journey.
Thank you. I loved it, and wouldn’t change a thing. I felt that, me personally and as a team, we fought through a lot of adversity. When I first came to Missouri S&T, the coach that originally recruited me left, and a new coaching staff came in. I had to work to gain their trust and confidence, which was an unexpected challenge for me and my teammates. But I enjoyed every minute of it.
What made you pick Missouri S&T?
I had offers from a few schools, some DI and DII programs, but my other passion besides football is engineering, specifically petroleum engineering, and I wanted to find a school that could further both my playing and academic needs, and Missouri S&T was the perfect fit.
Who would you say your game compares to at the pro level?
Probably Big Ben. He’s a big guy, but has shown himself to be mobile when needed, very durable and dependable. I’m kind of built like him—my teammates call me Big Swart—and I’ve watched a lot of tape of him and tried to model my game after him, everything from his footwork to his arm mechanics.
What are you up to now?
Well, I graduated this past December (with a BA in Petroleum Engineering, minor in Geology), and since then I’m still in Missouri, working out with the team and helping to prepare myself and other teammates to get a shot at the next level.
What’s been the interest level so far?
I was invited to an NFL pro day in Kansas City back in March. That experience was incredible. This weekend, I’ll be at a pro day for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. There’s also some potential in the Arena League and in Europe.
Basically, you want to keep that dream alive?
Absolutely. I would love to play in the NFL, but really I just want any opportunity to play and show that I can contribute at a professional level.
Best of luck to you Tyler. If you ever want to make zero dollars, you can come work for the Big Red Sports Machine.
[Laughs] Thanks, guys. But I think I’ll stick with football and Petroleum Engineering.
Let’s go to the Tape:
We’ve watched some tape on Tyler, and are impressed. There are shades of Big Ben in his game. He’s got good pocket awareness, anticipates the rush, moves well, throws well on the run, and when he sets his feet and has time, can rocket the ball down the field. Tyler’s favorite throw is the 15-yard out, and it shows on film. Check out the highlights at 40 seconds and 1:50…those are pro level plays. Tyler’s challenge will be getting the opportunity. There are surprising number of DII players in the NFL…82 suited up last year, led by Malcolm Butler (West Alabama) and Adam Thielen (Minnesota State). Of the 82, though, 0 were quarterbacks. However, the Eagles just signed former DII (and AAF) quarterback Luis Perez last week, which, as Tyler noted, gives hope that the dream is still alive.