LOGAN, Utah - It seems that almost every player is injured at some point in his or her career and some even have to deal with multiple injuries.

Injuries can prove to be very devastating to a player, but they can also be very humbling, which Utah State senior wide receiver Brandon Swindall found out last year.

Coming off a sophomore season in which he led the Aggies with six touchdown catches, Swindall had high expectations entering his junior campaign in 2014. However, his season was cut short when he tore his Achilles tendon on the first offensive play in the home opener against Idaho State on Sept. 6.

"I just went in motion and kind of pushed off of it," Swindall recalled. "There was nobody around me, so I just pushed off and it felt like I stepped in a ditch. I looked back, and you can see me on film look back, then took two more steps and just dropped. That's when the pain kicked in. It was terrible."

It certainly was. Especially when you consider Swindall had matched his career high in receptions with five in the season opener at Tennessee on Aug. 31. The native of Oklahoma City, Okla., handled the season-ending injury extremely well, though.

"It was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life," Swindall said. "It was a blessing because I was coming off of a good season, so I was hyped up and really big-headed."

Along with his team-high six touchdown catches in 2013, Swindall started five of the 13 games he played in and finished the season with 29 receptions for 285 yards. He had a career-high two touchdown catches in the season-opener at Utah on Aug 29.

However, the injury humbled Swindall.

"I didn't really know anything about the game until I actually had to sit out and watch," Swindall said. "That's why I think it was a blessing for me because I realized how much I loved the game and how much I needed the game. I learned more about the game from a different perspective, so it was a blessing for me."

Utah State passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight agreed with Swindall's assessment.

"The injury definitely humbled him and he grew as a person," Bouknight said. "When I say he grew, he grew off the field, but he also grew mentally in understanding the game. That allowed him to grow as a receiver and now, he can actually see stuff - the moving particles out there - which allows him to play a lot faster."

Adversity struck Swindall again during fall camp, when he pulled his hamstring. Because of that, Swindall missed the first two games of his senior season against Southern Utah and Utah, respectively. He played sparingly in the Aggies' game at Washington in week three.

"That hurt," Swindall admitted. "Coming back from the torn Achilles, I had a great summer rehabbing and getting my strength and speed back. Then, the first day of camp, I came out and it happened just like that. I was like, 'OK, is this what you want?' I started to think twice about things, but I pushed through it, kept my faith in the Lord and now I'm here."

What the Aggies get with a healthy 6-foot-4, 205-pound Swindall is a fast and talented wide receiver who is a smooth route runner. He has the ability to make difficult catches due to his height and strong hands.

"When he first got here, he was long and lanky, and just very timid as far as a lot of his mechanics," Bouknight pointed out. "He's letting it fly now and I can't wait to see him all the way 100 percent. The ceiling is very high for him and I can't wait to see him get after it."

In Utah State's Homecoming game against Colorado State on Oct. 3, Swindall caught his first pass of the season for five yards. The following week at Fresno State, he had one reception for 14 yards in the Aggies' 56-14 victory. On the season, Swindall has caught four passes for 45 yards, averaging 11.2 ypc.

With Swindall and fellow senior wide receiver Hunter Sharp, the Aggies have arguably two of the most feared targets in the Mountain West. And when you add players like senior Devonte Robinson, junior Andrew Rodriguez and redshirt freshman Zach Van Leeuwen into the mix, Utah State has a strong wide receiver corps.

"It's unbelievable watching Hunter play," Swindall said. "I love watching him play. What makes it so good is we all learn from each other. A lot of people don't know much about Van Leeuwen, but he's probably the best technical person in our receiving corps. We all help each other, which is why we're so good as a group. When we're all healthy, it's unbelievable."

Following his senior season at Millwood High School, Swindall was tabbed a Parade All-American and a first-team U.S. Air Force All-American. The son of William and Nicole Swindall helped lead the Falcons to a 13-1 record that season as the two-way star led the state of Oklahoma with 17 interceptions and set a national record by returning eight for touchdowns. He also caught 46 passes for 1,204 yards and 17 touchdowns.

"It was a blessing and an honor," Swindall said of his All-American honors. "It just shows how much hard work I put in. My sophomore year, I really wasn't into football and was just playing it. I had a good junior year and then the following summer, I pushed it to the max so I could be the best I could be. God blessed me with the talent and I had a great senior year."

Despite that, Swindall was not highly recruited. In fact, Utah State was the only school to offer him. Swindall, who loves to ride horses and is a big fan of country music, is majoring in health and wellness. He is on track to graduate in December.

"His presence is always good to have in the room and he's my go-to guy," Bouknight said. "He's been here for five years and he understands my expectations, he understands what we're about in that room so when I'm not there, he's the voice. He's a leader on the field and in the classroom."

Swindall would love to play football at the next level.

"If that doesn't work out, I'll see what the world has to offer next," he said.