Tales From the Scouting Trail: Abu Daramy-Swaray

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Tales From the Scouting Trail: Abu Daramy-Swaray - Cyril Penn

Abu Daramy-Swaray's journey from star cornerback at Colgate University to becoming a Winnipeg Blue Bomber has been circuitous, to say the least.

After wrapping up his five-year, accolade-filled college career in upstate New York, the 26-year-old had his eyes set on the NFL. He attended the College Gridiron Showcase event in late December of 2019 and was preparing for his all-important Pro Day when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Like many other small-school players - such as former Blue Bomber and current Atlanta Falcon DeAundre Alford - Daramy-Swaray was a victim of becoming lost in the shuffle during the pandemic. Scouts often have a more difficult time distinguishing how well lower-level college players will do once they reach the pro levels because the jump in competition is steeper. Without hard numbers to help, scouts stack Daramy-Swaray up against his higher-level peers and he did not receive significant NFL or CFL interest as he left college.

After bouncing around from day jobs in Columbus, Ohio that included Best Buy, BJ's Brewhouse and Donato's pizza, the young defensive back made the ultimate bet on himself by signing with Thiadric Hansen's former German Football League squad, the Potsdam Royals.

Daramy-Swaray's bet on himself paid off, as he parlayed an exceptionally productive season in the GFL to a rookie minicamp tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he impressed enough to be invited to their 2022 training camp.

It was at Bengals' training camp that Blue Bombers' Assistant General Manager/Director of U.S. Scouting recognized that Daramy-Swaray could be an interesting fit for our organization.

First, though, he made a quick pitstop in the XFL as the 70th overall pick in the defensive back draft by the Arlington Renegades. When he was let go along with a host of other players just days before the opening of the season, we noticed his name on the transaction wire and immediately began looking into signing him.

With the versatility to play on defense and special teams and the determination to enter the GFL and bet on himself, the Colgate product had the feel of a potential Blue Bomber.

Daramy-Swaray shows the ability to play as an outside cornerback, slot cornerback, and return both punts and kicks. With nimble feet, fluid hips to turn and run, and legitimate long speed, he has the ability to stay in the hip pocket of opposing receivers throughout the route stem. What's more, his anticipatory knack for when to break on the ball is something that cannot be taught and is a trait that will help him potentially stand out in one-on-one drills in training camp.

While he lacks size, standing at a diminutive 5-foot-9 and 172 pounds, Daramy-Swaray has a stronger than expected frame and has the compete level to challenge bigger receivers who try to box him out.

As training camp gets set to roll in the coming months, Blue Bombers fans in attendance will see an undersized but highly competitive player ready to prove the doubters wrong once again when they watch Daramy-Swaray closely.

Cyril Penn is a Blue Bombers U.S.-based scout and he will be writing regularly for bluebombers.com through the spring, providing an inside look at some of the American prospects the club will be bringing to camp.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2023/03/21/tales-from-the-scouting-trail-abu-daramy-swaray/

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