Perhaps one of the most intimidating and dangerous defensive players in Capital history, linebacker Ron Swearingin was the first athlete at Capital University to earn three All-America honors while punishing opposing quarterbacks from 2000-03.
Swearingin made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2000, setting the single-season program record with 139 total tackles. He made 23 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks. If that was not enough, he also nabbed three interceptions. For his efforts, Swearingin was named to the All-OAC honorable mention team.
In 2001, Swearingin came back strong as ever and bested his previous school record in tackles with an eye-popping 146 total stops. Swearingin led a defense that allowed almost 100 fewer points than it did in 2000 and sparked a four-win improvement over the previous season. The Crusaders gave up 10 fewer points per game than the previous season as the sophomore added three sacks and one interception. For the first time, Swearingin was named to the All-OAC First Team and he was named First Team All-Region by Football Gazette. His sophomore year also marked the first of his All-American seasons with First Team All-American honors from Football Gazette and a Third Team All-America nod from Hewlett Packard. Swearingin became the first Crusader to earn First Team All-America honors since 1988.
Capital's defense was even better in 2002 with Swearingin leading a unit that again reduced the number of points allowed by nearly 100 and gave up only 17.9 points per game. The linebacker topped the 100-tackle plateau for the third year with 116 stops and his sack total increased to 4.5. He was again named First Team All-OAC, First Team All-Region, First Team All-America by Football Gazette and Third Team All-America by Hewlett Packard. With his second First Team All-America selection, he became the first Capital player to receive the honor twice.
As unbelievable as it may be, the 2003 season was the most decorated of Swearingin's career. A preseason All-America pick, the senior again reached 100 total tackles, recorded 14 tackles for loss and made four sacks. The Crusaders gave up only 18.6 points per game as the team went 8-2, tying the Stagg Bowl-winning team of 1970 for number of wins in a season. The linebacker earned his third First Team All-OAC nod, third First Team All-Region selection and third First Team All-America honor from Football Gazette. He solidified himself as the most decorated Capital football player after he received the Bill Edwards Award as the OAC's Most Outstanding Linebacker and Football Gazette named him North Region Defensive Player of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year, two of the most coveted honors in Division III football.
Swearingin finished his four years on the gridiron with 501 total tackles, the most ever by a Crusader. He also set the single-season record for tackles with 146 in 2001 and his 23 tackles against Heidelberg on Sept. 15, 2001, are the most in a single game in school history.
Nearly seven years after Swearingin graduated, D3football.com announced its 2000's All-Decade Team recognizing the best of the best that played from 2000-2009. Swearingin and teammate Kyle Hausler were both named to the All-Decade team with Swearingin earning second team honors and Hausler earned first team recognition.
