by RENALDO
The recruitment process for Bahamian football player David Swaby has come to an end after the highly touted junior college transfer announced his decision on the next stop of his athletic career.
Swaby committed to the Oklahoma Sooners and will join the incoming 2018 class in Norman, Oklahoma this fall.
The 6’9” 290 pound lineman for the Navarro Junior College Bulldogs had his choice of several elite Division I programmes
“I would like to officially announce that I am shutting down my recruitment. I would not be where I am today without the support ad guidance of my mother and siblings who have been by my side showing me unconditional love.,” he said, “I would like to give a special thanks to the coaching staff at Navarro College, especially my great offensive line coach Jens Danielsen for encouraging and supporting me every step of the way and always believing in me. This decision was not made lightly, after praying and talking with my family I have chosen to commit to the University of Oklahoma.”
Swaby had an official visit with the University of Tennessee Volunteers, but has garnered the attention of many elite programmes across the United States including offers from fellow SEC powerhouse Ole Miss, Baylor, Houston, Arkansas State, New Mexico, SMU, North Texas, Texas State and Southern Mississippi.
Swaby moved from the Bahamas to south Florida where he played football for three years at St. Thomas Aquinas before a senior season spent at Salesian in Los Angeles, California.
He originally committed to the New Mexico Lobos, but was unable to qualify academically and eventually settled on Navarro.
Swaby discussed his decision with FootballFanatics.com while on his unofficial visit to Norman.
“The first thing that caught my eye was the stadium. You could feel the history, tradition, and legacy just by looking at the stadium. The campus was amazing, you could feel the pride of the people walking around. It just was an amazing environment to be around,” he said, “One of the most notable parts about the visit was meeting with Coach B and Coach Riley. We went over film, watched a lot of Orlando Brown’s film as we have very similar body types. Coach B was talking about techniques he teaches and even went in to detail about the training and types of machines he uses to teach those techniques. One of the coolest things that happened while I was there was that I was just outside the view when Coach Riley was taking that picture of he and the grads that was all over twitter today. It was very humbling to watch that picture take place and to see those guys all interacting like one big family.
Swaby will enrol for the summer session in preparation for the upcoming season.
“I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great program! I look forward tot he future with Coach Riley and Coach Bedenbaugh,” he said, “I’m already fully bought in and I’m ready to get to work. They can’t get me on campus soon enough! I am so happy to be an Oklahoma Sooner!”
The Bahamian gridiron connection at Navarro College has also included former offensive lineman Rico Forbes.
Coming out of Christian Life Center Academy in Houston, Texas, Forbes signed with Baylor but was not cleared by the NCAA Clearing House and played two seasons at Navarro. As a sophomore, he helped Navarro to an 11-1 record and the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship.
He found his way back to NCAA Division I when he enrolled at Washington State in 2011.
