The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Tracking the Longhorns: Geoff Swaim on the NFL Draft
05.02.2015 | Football
Tight end was selected by Dallas Cowboys with the 29th choice in the seventh round
2015 NFL Draft Index | Swaim taken in Seventh Round of NFL Draft | Video: Highlights of Swaim| Photo Gallery: Swaim in action
Tight end Geoff Swaim was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 29th pick in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Swaim started both of his seasons at Texas, providing a solid run-blocking presence. He spent Saturday in Austin with his wife and cousin awaiting a call from an NFl team.
Tight End Geoff Swaim
On receiving the call: It was just relief. That's the biggest thing. The past four or five hours have been pretty intense. No matter where you go in the draft, it's exciting, and I'm just glad to have the opportunity to be where I am and excited to get to work for sure.
On his day: My wife and my cousin are with me. We were at the greenbelt taking a walk just to get away from the TV and then went to a restaurant and sat around trying not to go nuts. My cousin's from Portland and she's lived here (in Austin) and been to all the games. I'm with them now and will probably see my sister and my brother-in-law tonight. They live in Austin, as well. I'll have family around, which is good.
On his wife's reaction: I was on the phone and she didn't know if I was talking to my agent or whatever it was, and she just freaked out. She was really fired up and jumping around and hugging. It was a good feeling. I know she's excited.
On being drafted by the Cowboys: I get to learn from Jason Witten, and that's the main thing. He was one of the best tight ends to ever play the game, and I'm really honored to be able to learn from a guy like that and pick his brain a little bit. That's the first thing I thought of, that I get to learn from him, a guy that I've tried to mimic my game after, particularly my running game since I didn't catch the ball a lot, but I like the way he plays and I'm excited to be able to work with someone like that.
On if he had contact with Cowboys before: No, I hadn't had any at all. I talked to them for the first time today. It was one of their player personnel guys, and then I talked to Jerry Jones a little while ago, and that was the first time I had talked to him. It was a nice surprise to have. I wasn't even watching the draft so I didn't know that they were picking and when he called me I thought they were just trying to get me as a free agent, but when he said they were going to draft me it was great.
On the Cowboys having three Longhorns on the roster: I know Donald (Hawkins) and Chris (Whaley). It will be cool to play with the guys that I've known and have a relationship with. That will be a nice way to transition for sure. After that point it will turn into business and I'll get to work.
On his experience at Texas preparing him: A big stage like Texas definitely does prepare you. It's probably as close as you can get to walking out of a tunnel in the NFL. I'm really honored to have played and Texas and be part of two extremely talented coaching staffs and be around such great players. It's been a huge blessing for me.
