The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed quarterbacks Bryan Scott, Jake Dolegala, and Darren Grainger, wide receiver Penny Hart, defensive lineman Brandon Wright, and defensive back Russell Dandy to the practice squad, and released wide receiver Josh Johnson on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Bryan Scott is six foot two and weighs 220 pounds. The 29-year-old from Rolling Hills, California, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on March 1, 2023. In 2023, Scott threw 4 passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on September 30, 2023.
In 2024, Scott dressed for nine games. He completed 5 of 5 passes (100%) for 79 yards and one touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes in Week 4. The Argonauts released Scott on August 20, 2024.
Scott attended the Los Angeles Rams rookie minicamp in 2017. Next, he signed with the B.C. Lions on April 18, 2017, but was released on May 1, 2017. After playing in The Spring League, Scott signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on October 8, 2019, and was placed on the practice squad.
In 2020, Scott played for the Generals (TSL). In the 2020 TSL Championship game against the Aviators, Scott completed 22 of 32 passes (68.8%) for 264 yards and three touchdowns when the Generals won 37-14. He was named the TSL MVP for the second time in his career.
Then, Bryan Scott was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars in the first round (3rd pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. He played three games for the Stars completing 60 of 85 passes (70.6%) for 558 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, nine carries for 23 yards, and one touchdown before suffering a knee and ankle injury against the New Jersey Generals that kept him out for the rest of the season.
After the season, Scott was assigned to the Vegas Vipers (XFL) after his contract with the Stars expired. However, the Vipers released him on January 30, 2023.
Collegiately, Scott played four seasons at Occidental (2013-16) completing 763 of 1,205 completions (63%) for 9,073 yards, 77 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, 158 carries for 402 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 33 games for the Tigers. He was a two-time First Team All-SCIAC (2015-16) and SCIAC Player of the Year (2016).
Jake Dolegala is six foot seven and weighs 242 pounds. The 27-year-old from Hamburg, New York, signed with the B.C. Lions on February 14, 2024. Dolegala came in after Adams Jr. suffered the right knee injury against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 9 completing 1 of 3 passes (33%) for 12 yards.
He made his first start for the Lions in Week 10 against the Edmonton Elks completing 14 of 23 passes (61%) for 146 yards, and one carry for five yards. In two games, Dolegala completed 15 of 26 passes (58%) for 158 yards, and one carry for five yards in 9 games. The Lions released him on August 14, 2024.
Dolegala signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He also spent time with the New England Patriots twice, the Green Bay Packers twice, and the Miami Dolphins.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Dolegala as a free agent on February 15, 2022. In 2022, Dolegala completed 16 of 35 passes (46%) for 154 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two carries for 12 yards in two games.
In 2023, Dolegala completed 216 of 333 passes (65%) for 2,641 yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 26 carries for 95 yards, and one touchdown in 13 games.
Collegiately, Dolegala played four seasons at Central Connecticut State (2015-18) completing 654 of 1,136 passes (57.6%) for 8,129 yards, 48 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 233 carries for 452 yards, and 18 touchdowns in 44 games for the Blue Devils.
Darren Grainger is six foot four and weighs 225 pounds. The 24-year-old from Conway, South Carolina, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp. He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 25, 2024. Grainger played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders completing 1 of 6 passes (17%) for 13 yards, and one carry for eight yards. The Blue Bombers released him on June 2, 2024.
Collegiately, Grainger played two seasons at Furman University (2018-19) completing 92 of 188 passes (49%) for 1,403 yards, 15 touchdowns, five interceptions, 135 carries for 349 yards, and five touchdowns in 18 games for the Paladins. He was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team in 2019.
Then, Grainger transferred to Georgia State (2021-23) completing 496 of 799 passes (62%) for 5,936 yards, 51 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 421 carries for 1,989 yards, 17 touchdowns, and two tackles (2 solo) in 35 games for the Panthers. In 2023, Grainger completed 202 of 299 passes (68%) for 1,964 yards, 16 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 136 carries for 666 yards, eight touchdowns, and two tackles (2 solo) in 11 games.
In the 2023 Famous Idaho Potatoes Bowl against Utah State, Grainger completed 19 of 22 passes (86.4%) for 257 yards, three touchdowns, 24 carries for 111 yards, and two touchdowns leading the Panthers to a 45-22 win, and was named the Bowl’s MVP. In addition, Grainger was named a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention, MVP of the 2021 TaxAct Camellia Bowl, and the Davey O’Brien Award Class of 2023.
Penny Hart is five foot eight and weighs 180 pounds. The 28-year-old from Roswell, Georgia, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019. He was released by the Colts on September 7, 2019. Next, Hart signed with the Seattle Seahawks on October 22, 2019. He played three seasons in Seattle making 11 catches for 82 yards, one carry for 19 yards, and 17 tackles (10 solo, 7 assists) in 39 games.
After Seattle, Hart signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 4, 2023. He spent part of the season on the practice squad before he was released on October 9, 2023.
Collegiately, Hart played four seasons at Georgia State (2015-18) making 202 catches for 2,950 yards, 19 touchdowns, 13 carries for 28 yards, 17 kick returns for 319 yards, 16 punt returns for 200 yards, and one touchdown, and three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist) in 39 games for the Panthers. He was named a two-time First Team All-Sun Belt, Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, and Freshman All-American by 24/7 Sports.
Brandon Wright is six foot two and weighs 250 pounds. The 24-year-old from Euclid, Ohio, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Collegiately, Wright played five seasons at Michigan State (2019-23). He started as a running back for the first two seasons and switched to defensive lineman in his junior season. He made 44 tackles (13 solo, 31 assists), six tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles, 24 carries for 61 yards, and one catch for 13 yards in 42 games for the Spartans.
Russell Dandy is six foot and weighs 175 pounds. The 24-year-old from Hinesville, Georgia, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp in 2024. He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 22, 2024. Dandy played two preseason games making two tackles and one tackle on special teams. The Blue Bombers released him on June 2, 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.
Josh Johnson is five foot eleven and weighs 181 pounds. The 25-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on March 7, 2024. In 2024, Johnson made 18 catches for 138 yards, and two carries for 0 yards in 10 games.
Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022, and spent most of the season on the practice squad before he was released on November 29, 2022.
The Birmingham Stallions signed Johnson as a free agent on April 25, 2023. He made two catches for 13 yards in four games for the Birmingham Stallions (USFL) in 2023. In the playoffs, Johnson made three catches for 61 yards, and one touchdown helping the Stallions win their second USFL Championship over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Collegiately, Johnson played two seasons at Iowa State (2017-18) making one catch for 11 yards in 12 games for the Cyclones. Then, Johnson transferred to Tulsa (2019-21) making 165 catches for 2,108 yards, 13 touchdowns, four carries for one yard, one kick return for 31 yards, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 34 games for the Golden Hurricanes.
