A Linfield football player has received the male Vern Marshall Award on 11 occasions since the honor was first introduced in 2002. Travis Swanson continued that tradition in 2022-23, becoming the 12^th member of the program to join a list of Wildcat greats.
 
The Vern Marshall Award is named after a former Linfield student-athlete and longtime college and professional sports referee. The award recognizes the top male and female athletes who compete with the greatest tenacity. Nineteen honorees representing six programs have earned the men's accolade.
 
A star player for Wood River High School in Hailey, Idaho, Swanson transferred to Linfield after one season at Occidental College in Los Angeles. The electric defensive end put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Wildcats.
 
A D3football.com Third Team All-American and the NWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, Swanson finished his collegiate career with two First Team All-Northwest Conference nods while landing on the Second Team twice, including as a graduate student in 2022. Linfield's 2022 campaign saw Swanson play through injury to help the 'Cats (10-1, 7-0 NWC) capture the program's 38^th NWC championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
Swanson finished his final season with an even 30 tackles, 22 solo. He led the 'Cats with 15 ½ tackles for loss, which included 10 ½ sacks, ranking just outside the top 20 in Division III. He also registered a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.