Patriot League Release

HAMILTON – Defensive tackle Nick Wheeler and defensive back Abu Daramy-Swaray wrapped up their Patriot League careers in fine fashion Tuesday.
 
Both were named All-Patriot League First Team for a third consecutive year. For Daramy-Swaray, it was his second year in a row to earn first-team placement as both a defensive back and return specialist.
 
Other Raiders on the first team were offensive lineman Jack Badovinac and tight end Nick Diaco. Badovinac is a repeat first-team selection, while Diaco advanced from last year's second team to this season's first.
 
Colgate's second-team picks were linebacker Nicholas Ioanilli and defensive back Collin Heard, along with return specialist William Gruber. Ioanilli is a repeat selection for the second team, while Heard and Gruber both were selected for the first time.


 
Wheeler ended his career as the all-time Colgate sack leader and third in Patriot League history with 33. That figure ranked fourth nationally among active FCS leaders. He led the team with 18 tackles-for-loss, accounting for minus-81 yards, and 9½ sacks for minus-60. Both of those totals were among the national top 20. If sacks were not included in Wheeler's TFL total, he still would have been the team leader in TFLs with 8½. He started 31 games, all consecutive.


 
Daramy-Swaray led the Raiders with 10 pass-breakups and finished fourth in tackles with 54. He also returned 15 punts for an 8.7-yard average that was second in the Patriot League. Showing his versatility, Daramy-Swaray rushed five times for 20 yards and touchdown, and caught two passes for a 13-yard average. His 37 starts are tops among all Raiders active in 2019.


 
Badovinac ended this season riding a string of 32 consecutive starts, which leads all comers on the offensive side of the ball. He began the season at right guard but switched over to left guard and made his final nine starts at that position.


 
Diaco led all Raider pass-catchers with a 14.1-yard average. His 366 yards were second on the team and his 26 catches third. Diaco also tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions, but he added to that total by running for a score and throwing for another. Diaco rushed 13 times for a 5.7-yard average, including a 27-yard TD burst at Georgetown. He was a perfect 1-of-1 passing on the strength of his 4-yard toss against Fordham.


 
Ioanilli led Colgate in tackles for the second time in the last three years. His 87 tackles were a career high, blowing past the 62 he accumulated in 2017 and the 56 he posted last year. For his career, Ioanilli finished with 214 tackles, of which 115 were solo stops (50 this year). Ioanilli this season compiled 6½ tackles-for-loss, including one sack, to go with a team-leading seven quarterback hurries. He added three pass-breakups and one forced fumble.


 
Heard accounted for three of Colgate's four interceptions this season, with picks against William & Mary, Maine and in the finale at Lafayette. He finished fifth in tackles with 49 and was second in pass breakups with five. Heard in his sophomore campaign started all 12 games at right cornerback.


 
Gruber returned 36 kickoffs for a 22.2-yard average that led the Patriot League. His best return went for 38 yards against Maine. In addition, Gruber posted 20 tackles and three pass-breakups as a reserve in the defensive secondary.