PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Albuquerque, New Mexico- It’s 2026. I think at this point we’ve heard just about every story involving the transfer portal in college football. Most of the time, a player will transfer because of a pay check, an opportunity to play at a bigger school or because they wanted more playing time. 

Well, here’s a transfer portal story you haven’t heard… linebacker Mercury Swaim chose UNM because he wanted to pursue a degree in nuclear engineering. 

“This city is awesome. I love the city of Albuquerque so much,” Swaim said.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

That’s right a D1 football player used the transfer portal to further his career in academics.

“Obviously, I love football but it was not something that I wanted to sacrifice my academic path that I had set out for myself,” Swaim said, who achieved a double-major in chemistry and math in three years before coming to UNM. 

Swaim played his first three years at Saint Francis, a D1 FCS school in Loretto, Pennsylvania. During his career at Saint Francis, he played in 24 games, and recorded 104 tackles in his career. 

“They had great science programs, had great professors, I really liked the professors from meeting them, and I liked the coaching staff as well. It was a great fit for me. Also, it was 50 minutes away from my hometown,” Swaim said, who grew up in Bedford, Pennsylvania. 

“Going in, I was thinking about pre-med, being an anesthesiologist. I remember taking a Calculus 2 class my first semester, and I had forgotten how much I liked math,” Swaim said.

While pursuing his degrees, and dabbling in chemistry engineering, Swaim found his calling, and was set on becoming a nuclear engineer.

“I was so interested in nuclear, and all the reactors, the different particle physics behind it,” Swaim said. “It just helps you put the pieces of the world around you which I love.”

After three years, Swaim made his move and entered the transfer portal to find a nuclear engineering school.

“I had a few schools who were interested in me for my football talents but they didn’t have the programs I really wanted, and I did not want to sacrifice my academic career just for football,” Swaim said. 

Swaim generated interest from James Madison, UNLV, etc. However, the Colorado School of the Mines offered a decent football scholarship and had a great nuclear engineering program. The only caveat was that he would be playing D2 football.

“It was really tough. They’re not many schools that offer what I was looking for,” Swaim said.

According to the Nuclear Engineering Departments Heads Organization (NEDHO), 38 schools throughout the U.S. offer a nuclear engineering program. One of the 38 schools, the University of New Mexico.

Because Swaim’s father knew Marshall head coach Tony Gibson, a possible bridge to UNM was established. Coach Gibson was able to reach out to current UNM head coach, Jason Eck, and gave him the rundown on Swaim.

“I remember I was very just out of breath when they called me. I was just so excited to just get them on the phone and have the opportunity to come here,” Swaim said when he received a call from UNM.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Though the UNM linebacker room was already filled out, Swaim was brought in because Coach Eck loved his character, and because Eck loved bringing in guys who are pursuing tough degrees which have correlation to their success on the field. 

In the classroom, Swaim excelled and was one of eight Lobos to earn CSC Academic All-District honors. He was also a Mountain West Fall All-Academic selection.

On the field, Swaim played sparingly for the first few games before earning his first start against San Jose State Oct. 3, 2025. 

“As long as the team’s doing good, I’m doing good. Why would I be selfish and kind of bring down the team? I always just embrace my role whatever that is whether that’s a star player or whether that’s watching the game from the bench,” Swaim said.

After San Jose State, Swaim became the permanent starter for the Lobos.

“And just being able to be here, and getting that kind of love and praise from the coaches at such a big school, and at such a big stage, it just meant the world to me,” Swaim said. 

In 2025, Swaim recorded 52 total tackles, and was one of the highest graded defenders on the Lobos squad earning a 77.3 PFF defense grade.The Bedford high school alumni formed quite the hard-hitting tandem with eventual Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jaxton Eck.

PHOTO BY DANIEL ZUNIGA

Swaim was one of the “Real Ones” re-signed by UNM this offseason. The talented linebacker is expected to be a key piece in the Lobos’ quest for a Mountain West title.

However, none of Swaim’s journey would have been possible without the help of his Saint Francis professor/academic advisor, Dr. Edward Zovinka. 

“Without him, I don’t know if I am here. He was just such a big help,” Swaim said. 

Swaim recalled that Dr. Zovinka taught him Organic Chemistry one-on-one to fulfill his final credits to obtain a degree in chemistry. It was a little insight into the phenomenal academic guidance that Dr. Zovinka provided to Swaim, and to many other Saint Francis students.

“I’ll be forever grateful for him,” Swaim said, who also singled out Bedford’s Mr. Miller and Brian Creps for being great educators. “I’ve had a lot of great teachers growing up in middle school, high school, and in college. I’ve just always caught onto the idea of learning.”

As for tips on how to succeed in college, here’s what Swaim had to say: “For me it was building that relationship with the professors because they are the masters at the subject. Try to apply yourself as much as you can and build a relationship with your professor. If you do those two things, there’s no way you won’t be successful.”

Once Saturday’s come back to University Stadium, remember number 16 for the Lobos because Mercury Swaim is a reminder that academics are not a thing of the past in college football.