HS Rugby Players in College Football Part II
HS Rugby Players in College Football Part II
In a follow-up on our last article on prominent HS rugby players who are now in college football, here are some more names.
First, though, an added note about Cameron Griffin, the former ICEF No. 8. After redshirting his freshman year, Griffin suited up for UCLA this past weekend against BYU and in his first touch as a fullback, caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in a 17-14 win for the Bruins.
But we also have more:
Reggie Corbin, formerly of Gonzaga HS rugby, was a redshirt freshman at Illinois last year, but is now a running back for the Illini, and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown against Murray State two weeks ago.
Former Gonzaga HS prop Jack Carroll is now a defensive tackle for New Hampshire.
Former HS All American and Lowland HS rugby standout Stratton Brown is the starting free safety at Fresno State.
Former HS All American selection and Herriman center Francis Bernard is starting at linebacker for BYU.
Kesni Tausinga, former captain of Highland Rugby in Utah, is playing on the defensive line for BYU.
Tueni Lupeamanu is a former Herriman HS rugby captain and has been a longtime starter at defensive tackle at Idaho, where he is also a team captain. He has been called a "dominant force" on the Vandals' D-line.
Matt Snyder, formerly of the Danville Oaks rugby program, is in his second year at Nebraska.
Josh Odom, who was playing rugby at Colorado School of Mines and before that with the Colorado Springs HS program, is now concentrating on football. He was a redshirt and was named the Mines football team’s offensive scout player of the year. He is seeing time as a running back for Mines this season.
Former West Chester Wolf Pack (Pa.) rugby player Max Perrisse is a starting defensive lineman for the University of Buffalo, where he has ben a standout for the last three years.
Kelepi Fifita was in the HS All American program and is on the defensive line for Northern Arizona. He recorded one sack this past weekend against New Mexico Highlands.
Inoke Rakadroika was another former HS All American, this time out of South Bay in SoCal, and is now a defensive lineman for UC Davis seeing regular time.