Waco, Texas — Catawba College senior offensive tackle Avery Swinton was named an American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Second Team selection, the organization announced Wednesday morning.
 
The 2025 South Atlantic Conference Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner and Gene Upshaw Award finalist led a Catawba offensive line unit that was widely considered to be the best in the conference, leading the Catawba Indians to the top offense in the SAC by total offense.
 
Swinton is the 11th student-athlete in Catawba Football history to earn All-America honors from the AFCA, joining LJ Turner as All-Americans by the coaches association in back to back seasons for the Catawba Indians. Swinton joins Brian Hinson – Catawba's other Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner in program history – as the only other offensive lineman to earn AFCA All-America honors.
 
The Jacksonville, Fla. native was a two-time All-SAC First Team selection and the first in Catawba program history to be named a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award – honored to the top lineman on either side of the ball in Division II football.