The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed wide receiver Sy Barnett and defensive back Russell Dandy, released wide receiver Oliver Martin and placed defensive lineman Cam Lawson on the injured reserve list on Wednesday.
Sy Barnett is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Barnett signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023, but was released three days later. Next, Barnett signed with the Arlington Renegades on January 31, 2024, and was released on March 21, 2024.
Collegiately, Barnett played three seasons at Ferris State University (2018-19, 2021) making 89 catches for 1,950 yards, 15 touchdowns, 26 carries for 114 yards, three touchdowns, completing one pass for 18 yards, one tackle (1 solo), punting the ball 54 times for 2,157 yards (39.9 AVG), made 7 of 10 field goals (70%), and made 55 of 61 field goals (90.2%) in 38 games for the Bulldogs.
Barnett is a member of the Bulldogs’ 2019 GLIAC Championship and NCAA Semifinalist team and was named an All-Conference honoree in 2019.
Then, Barnett transferred to Davenport in 2022 making 53 catches for 694 yards, four touchdowns, two carries for six yards, two kick returns for 25 yards, punting the ball 19 times for 798 yards (42 AVG), one touchback, three fair catches, seven from inside the 20-yard line, four from 50-plus yards, and nine punt returns for 59 yards in nine games for the Panthers.
Russell Dandy is six foot and weighs 175 pounds. A native of Hinesville, Georgia, Dandy went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp in 2024.
Collegiately, Dandy played two seasons at Butte College (2018-19) making 25 tackles (19 solo, 6 assists), one tackle for loss, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 15 games for the Roadrunners.
Then, Dandy transferred to Eastern Illinois University (2021-23) making 74 tackles (61 solo, 13 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 25 games for the Panthers.
In 2023, Dandy made 34 tackles (30 solo, 4 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception, 19 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 11 games. He was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2021 and First Team All-Big South Conference in 2023.
Oliver Martin is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 25-year-old from Coralville, Iowa, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He played two preseason games with three catches for 11 yards.
Next, Martin signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on September 12, 2023, and was placed on the practice squad. Martin re-signed with the Blue Bombers on January 18, 2024, but did not play in the preseason against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Collegiately, Martin played two seasons at Michigan (2017-18) with 11 catches for 125 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for 11 yards in 13 games for the Wolverines. Then, he transferred to Iowa in 2019 with five catches for 28 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for five yards in eight games for the Hawkeyes.
After Iowa, Martin transferred to Nebraska (2020-22) with 26 catches for 428 yards, and two touchdowns in 25 games for the Cornhuskers.
