All Octavius Darby has wanted since graduating from South Carolina State is a chance to play pro football.

Despite going undrafted and unsigned by an NFL team, the former Bulldog tight end has continued to train in hopes of receiving a tryout.

On June 18, the Buffalo Bills invited Darby and 99 aspiring prospects to Orchard Park to work out for 90 minutes in front of the pro personnel department.

“We just did some cone drills, some sled drills, some blocking drills and ran routes with the quarterbacks,” Darby said.

Overall, Darby thought he did “pretty good” in his first pro workout. Once the coaching staff starts reviewing film from the workout, Darby hopes to receive a telephone call from the Bills for a possible invite to full training camp.

Buffalo’s current roster has 17 players who were eventually signed off a workout including Fred Jackson, Justin Jenkins, Brian Moorman and Bryan Scott among others. However, John Guy, Bills’ Vice President of Pro Personnel, acknowledged such signings from the workouts are rare.

“Right now we don’t have the spots to do that,” Guy said. “You’re always trying to adjust the back end of your roster and you’re always trying to get better. We’ve had a lot of guys that have come out of workouts that are on our roster now.”

While awaiting word from the Bills, Darby has filled out an online application with the upstart UFL. In the meantime, all Darby can do is continue to wait and hope.

“I’m actually still pretty optimistic because ... I still have a chance. Somebody could get hurt. I’m still training. Still hopeful.”

McCoy participates in Lions’ workout

Former S.C. State quarterback Cleveland McCoy took part in workouts for the Detroit Lions Wednesday.

According to the Web site FootballGuys.com, the Hollywood native took snaps at quarterback, as well as ran routes at wide receiver. When McCoy signed a free-agent contract, he saw himself as someone who could play in the “Wildcat” formation.

The Web site indicated McCoy was a “long shot” at best at making the 53-man roster and his best hope would be to make the practice squad because of his versatility.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

 

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