WINNIPEG The American players who have joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are quarterback Darren Grainger, defensive end Brandon Wright, defensive back Russell Dandy, and receiver Penny Hart, the organization said on Tuesday.
After being released from this year’s training camp late, Grainger (six foot four, 2250 pounds, Georgia State; born July 21, 2000, in Conway, SC) rejoins the Bombers. Grainger played for Georgia State (2021–2023) and Furman (2018–2019) for five years during his college career. Grainger played in 17 games for Furman, starting 12 of them. He completed 161 throws for 1,403 yards and five touchdowns, and he also gained 353 yards and five scores on the ground.
After transferring to Georgia State for the 2021 season, Grainger started 36 of 38 FBS games over the following three seasons, throwing for 554 yards and 57 touchdowns and ended his college career with a passer rating of 142.4. Grainger also gained 2,153 yards and 19 touchdowns on 456 rushes. Grainger played one pass for 13 yards in his Bombers debut against the Calgary Stampeders at the end of training camp before being injured.
Wright, a six-foot-two, 250-pound Michigan State player who was born in Euclid, Ohio on August 13, 2000, joins the Bombers following a five-year (2019–2023) collegiate career at Michigan State. Wright made 12 appearances in 12 games as a running back in 2019 and 2020, carrying 24 times for 61 yards.
Wright was moved to defensive end for the 2021 campaign in an effort to bolster the pass rush. Wright would play in 28 games between 2021 and 2023, starting seven of them. During that time, he recorded 44 tackles, six tackles for losses, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one knockdown.
Five-foot-eight inches and 180 pounds, Hart played for Georgia State for four seasons (2015–2018) before spending three seasons (2019–2023) in the NFL before joining the Bombers. Hart was born in Roswell, Georgia, on July 5, 1996.
The Indianapolis Colts signed Hart as an undrafted free agent in May 2019. In October 2019, he was brought to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad after being placed on the injured reserve. Hart played in 39 NFL games over the course of the following three seasons (2020–2022), catching 11 catches for 82 yards and rushing once for 19 yards. After signing with the Atlanta Falcons, the receiver was cut go in October of 2023.
Hart played in 35 of the 38 games he started while in college. He caught 203 passes for 2,960 yards and 19 touchdowns, returned 16 punts for 200 yards and one score, and returned 15 kicks for 299 yards.
Dandy, a six-foot-170-pound native of Eastern Illinois who was released at the conclusion of this year’s training camp, rejoins the Bombers. He was born in Hinesville, Georgia on April 28, 2000.
Dandy’s college career began in 2018–19 with Butte College, where he played in 15 games and recorded 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, three knockdowns, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Dandy recorded 61 solo tackles, 13 assists, 3.5 tackles for losses, three interceptions, 24 knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 25 games (24 starts) after transferring to Eastern Illinois (2021–2023). With 19 knockdowns and 1 interception in his final year (2023), Dandy led the FCS in passes defended and was chosen for the First Team All-Big South Conference.
Dandy was not taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he just attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp.
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