Jarrett Swaby spending time with current, former teammates for bowl game

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. – Jarrett Swaby is in a seemingly awkward position this week. 

Since Monday, the Ball State safety has been enjoying pre-game festivities like beach parties and player cruises for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl with his teammates. But that doesn't just include his teammates at Ball State. 

It also includes his former teammates at Central Florida, which Ball State will play against Friday. 

"I've been away for a long time," Swaby said.

From 2009-11, Swabby played safety for Central Florida. He didn't have much to show for his time there, registering only 12 tackles in 11 games in 2011 after he recorded zero stats in 2010. He redshirted in 2009. 

Instead, Swaby's most impressive accomplishments at Central Florida came in the classroom. He completed his criminal justice undergraduate degree in only three years, thanks in large part from his former coach, George O'Leary, who Swaby already talked to this week. 

"He was just telling me that he's impressed with me [and] happy for me that the transfer went good for me as far as getting school done," Swaby said. "He let me take 19 hours, which is a lot of credit hours. He trusted me to get it done. Through that, and through him helping me, I was able to make everything possible." 

With two years of football eligibility remaining, Swaby transferred to Ball State last summer. Only months removed from that transition, he'll line up against his former teammates and friends in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl Friday night. 

For Swaby, time hasn't gone by so quickly since changing schools. 

"We only had six seniors last year, so I pretty much know the whole team," he said. "It was good to see the guys again. There was never bad blood between us. I just had to do what was best for me."

Swaby said, in particular, he's kept in contact with Central Florida linebacker Jonathan Davis, halfback Dontravius Floyd and wide receiver Jeff Godfrey while at Ball State. Still, they weren't the only ones he was glad to see again this week. 

"Pretty much everybody," Swaby said. "All of us were always cool. We were always really tight."

But with the happy reunion in place, will it feel strange to Swaby when he has to make that first tackle against a former teammate? 

"Not at all," he said. " It'll be like a scrimmage."