Andover's James Nyamwaya Expected To Get NFL Call This Weekend

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Former Andover High and Merrimack College football player James Nyamwaya should find out the next stop in his unlikely football journey this weekend.

The NFL Draft got underway Thursday night in Kansas City. Though Nyamwaya is not considered a top prospect, some projections have the 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive tackle getting drafted in one of the later rounds — rounds 4-7 are on Saturday.

Perhaps most likely, Nyamwaya will sign with a team after the draft as a priority undrafted free agent.

According to the Andover Townsman, Nyamwaya has had discussions with the Chiefs, Rams, Chargers, Bengals, Ravens, Browns, Jets, Jaguars, Cowboys, Vikings, Steelers and Dolphins.

"I never thought, until recently, that I would have the chance to become an NFL draft pick," Nyamwaya told the Andover Townsman. "I never imagined I would have the massive opportunity I have right now. It's really surreal right now."

Nyamwaya was born in Kenya and came to the U.S. when he was 9 years old. He played basketball and soccer before first playing football as a freshman at Andover High.

He eventually played four seasons for the Golden Warriors before graduating in 2017. Nyamwaya then spent a post-graduate year at Bridgton Academy in Maine.

From there, Nyamwaya moved on to Division III Curry College in Milton. After a breakout season in 2019, Nyamwaya did not play in 2020 due to the pandemic.

In 2021, Nyamwaya had 61 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble for the Colonels, and he was named First Team All-Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Nyamwaya then transferred to Division I Merrimack, where he played last fall for the Warriors, who went 8-3. In that season, Nyamway had 27 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, receiving Second Team All-NEC honors.

A strong performance at an NFL Pro Day at Holy Cross in March —which included Nyamwaya recording an impressive 35-inch vertical leap — made Nyamwaya even more intriguing to NFL Scouts.

Ryan Vidales, of NFL Draft Diamonds, wrote that Nyamwaya has strong balance and body control, quick hands and hip/knee flexibility that will allow him to create penetration and clog up running lanes in the interior.

"(Nyamwaya) operates with a high motor, frequently pursuing the ball from sideline to sideline and chasing down ball carriers from behind. He is a tireless competitor who can flip momentum with energy and effort on every snap," Vidales wrote.

Vidales wrote that Nyamwaya remains a bit raw, but that his lower-body explosiveness and tackle-for-loss production at Merrimack should be enough to get him the door in the NFL.

"Through his five years of college, Nyamwaya spent most of his career at the Division III level and has yet to square off against elite offensive linemen on a consistent basis," Vidales wrote. "Nyamwaya will likely need some time to adjust to the level of competition in the NFL, but he is only scratching the surface of his potential. In the right situation, Nyamwaya could develop into a rotational 3-tech after spending some time on an NFL practice squad."