Isiah Swann’20 and Niko Lalos’20 Onto the NFL

Over two weeks ago, the NFL draft ended. But the rush to sign players wasn’t over; many promising rookies go undrafted. These circumstances are all too common for schools like the College with smaller athletic programs, whose players may not get the same attention in college recruiting and scouting as those from powerhouse athletic programs. The opportunity to sign after the draft provides many with a chance to prove themselves on an NFL team. Two dominant defensive stars, Isiah Swann ‘20 and Niko Lalos ‘20, plan to do exactly that. 

Isiah Swann ‘20 Courtesy of Dartmouth Athletics

Signed to the Cincinnati Bengals, cornerback Swann has racked up a lengthy list of accolades during his time at the College: 2x All-Ivy League First Teams, many FCS All-American First Teams, and much more. Swann is now Dartmouth’s all-time leader with 17 interceptions and four pick-sixes, establishing his legacy in the history of Big Green football. Nevertheless, the signing process was still intense. Swann described the event as a “roller coaster.” COVID-19, which has permeated its way into many facets of life, also had a huge impact on recruitment. 

“Small school guys got the short of the stick this offseason,” Swann says, as pro days were cancelled. He didn’t take this tribulation as inevitable, however, and “wanted to make sure [he] did everything [he] could to maximize [his] chances of being seen.” Participating in a mock-pro day, he performed very well and his “agent sent [his numbers] out to all 32 teams.” Despite the fact that he “talked to about 13 teams before the draft,” which reflects that many were interested, he was disappointed that no one gave him a call as the rounds went by. Then, after “the longest 45 minutes of my life,” Swann says, “Coach Jackson from the Bengals called me and offered to sign me.” Swann recognized the fantastic opportunity he had: “Me and my family were just so relieved to have got signed because we were realizing a lot of qualified small school players weren’t as fortunate.” 

Indeed, the post-draft events can be just as stressful because many players await a phone call so that they too can make their mark in the NFL. With the Cincinnati Bengals looking to rebuild and get a fresh start following their 2-14 season, young and ambitious players like Swann have the potential to become important parts of a revitalized roster. Swann’s goals for his rookie season are “to first and foremost make the roster and prove to the staff that they made the right choice by signing [him]” and then to “develop into the best player [he] can be and contribute in any way [he] can whether that’s on defense or on special teams to help the team win.” 

It is promising that he is willing to pursue all opportunities he can on the Bengals since many players find themselves playing positions they did not start in previously or even never played before. There will be many veterans to advise him on his journey. Specifically, Swann looks forward to meeting the Bengals secondary. They are “who I will be spending the most time with, especially Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander,” he says. Trae Waynes was the 11th overall pick in the 2015 draft and Mackensie Alexander was the 54th overall pick in the 2016 draft, meaning Swann has some fantastic teammates to play and compete with as well as to learn from. Swann also mentions, “As a lifelong fan of football, I’d love to meet Carlos Dunlap and AJ Green.” It’s always interesting to see how players get to meet those that had significant roles in their lives as fans of the game. “I always had AJ on my fantasy teams and normally had Dunlap’s card on Madden so it will be cool to meet those guys,” Swann states.

His journey to the NFL has never been straight forward, which is a testament to his persistence. Swann acknowledged that his parents played a vital role in inspiring and helping him. He reflects: “I’ve always kind of started from the bottom of the depth chart in every level of football going back to pee wee, and they have always been there constantly encouraging me and giving me whatever I needed to be successful. Even when I was struggling to believe in myself, they were always there to assure me that I could succeed.” Paying homage to his past, Swann now looks towards a bright future. 

Niko Lalos ‘20  Courtesy of Dartmouth Athletics

Signed to the New York Giants, defensive end Lalos has proven himself on the field as one of Dartmouth’s finest pass rushers, receiving countless First-Team awards as well as being named Team MVP at the most recent Hula Bowl. The Hula Bowl is a postseason All-Star game where players from diverse divisions can display their skills at a national level, and Lalos did exactly that with two sacks and a forced fumble. The spring has been a busy one for Lalos. Leading up to the draft, he had to engage in “lots of interviews, phone calls, and questionnaires.” In addition to proving himself through the numbers, he also had to display his strong character, leadership, and other intangibles that make him a player that must be drafted/signed. Just like Swann and many other players anxiously waiting to hear their name called on television, Lalos describes the experience as being “both stressful and exciting…watching the draft and waiting for [his] phone to ring.” Although Lalos did not make the draft, that phone call finally arrived from the Giants. 

Now headed to a team with four super bowl victories but with three losing seasons in a row, Lalos has a perfect opportunity to display his talents and contribute to a team that could rebound to its former glory. He hopes to “make the 53-man roster and continue the transition into the career of a professional athlete.” Both goals are well within his reach, considering his college performance. With COVID-19 delaying the start of the NFL’s offseason programs, he will have to wait to be able to practice with the team and showcase his defensive skills, but the anticipation is still there. The Giants are a team with numerous defensive players in the Hall of Fame, leaving some massive shoes to fill but also some great figures to look up to. 

“It would be cool to meet Lawrence Taylor and/or Michael Strahan because they played similar positions to me,” Lalos says. Both former Giants are Hall of Famers, dominating their positions at linebacker and defensive end, respectively. It goes to show what tremendous opportunities lay ahead for Lalos. In recognizing his path to the NFL, he made sure to show his gratefulness for his mother: “My mom has helped/inspired [me] along my entire football journey since I was 5 years old.” In addition, he thanks Dartmouth Defensive Line Coach, Duane Brooks, who “has helped [him] more recently throughout [his] college career.” Now prepared to start the next stage of his football career, Lalos will take what he has learned from home and the College and apply it towards his new family, the New York Giants.

The College now has two more young stars — blazing a path towards a chance at greatness in the NFL. They both appreciate the special moments they had playing for the College. Swann expressed, “I’m gonna miss my teammates the most. I’ve made best friends…over the past 4 years and I will always cherish the memories we made on and off the field.” Similarly, Lalos acknowledges his “friends and teammates and coaches that made [his] time at Dartmouth so special.” The lessons they learned from their teammates and peers, coaches, and the College will surely carry with them. Though the journeys from Hanover to Cincinnati and New York will offer novel challenges, Swann and Lalos have promising futures ahead of them and display the grit and optimism necessary to play in the next level.