Zac Swanson, DL
Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Zac Swanson is among multiple former Longhorns transfers who has contributed to Arizona State's defensive line rotation this fall. Swanson and Dorbah have both made sizable impacts on Arizona State's formidable defensive line up front this fall.
Swanson is a rotational defensive lineman for Arizona State, ranking fourth among defensive tackles in snaps this season. He had sacks in back-to-back games and multiple tackles for loss in Arizona State's first two wins in Big 12 play, including an eight-point victory over No. 16 ranked Utah in Week 5.
Swanson has a chip on his shoulder going into the matchup against the Longhorns in the quarterfinal of the Playoff.
"That's a team who kicked me out and said I was never going to be good enough to play there."Zac Swanson
From what I have come to understand about Texas's handling of the portal and how they felt about Swanson as a player, I don't think the Longhorns' coaching staff would go so far as to belittle his ability on the gridiron as a player before transferring to Arizona State.
"Exactly what was said is, 'If you want to stay at Texas, you might as well quit football and just go to school here. So, a lot of motivation there for me. It was probably the worst thing ever said to me, and it was just said so carelessly, like they didn't care it was changing my entire life."Zac Swanson
It seems as if Arizona State didn't already have enough motivation to get up and energized to face the Longhorns in the second round of the Playoff next week on New Year's Day; Swanson definitely stirred something up here.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that Swanson's statements are really motivating as bulletin board material for the Longhorns. But he's clearly brought about some controversy before the Playoff game next week against the Longhorns.