Update: Rugby Players in the NFL & College Football

Johnson Bademosi

As American football enters postseason play for college and the run-up to the playoffs for the NFL, it’s time once again to check in on former rugby players (NOTE: we only check in on those that played for a national team or saw significant time in college.
We begin with Hayden Smith. Shortly before our last update we Smith made the jump from being on the practice team to making the 53-man roster. That is quite an accomplishment for someone who had never played an organized game in his life. Since then he has appeared in two games without registering any stats. It’s a learning year for Smith but seeing as he has made so much progress this year, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him return. The Jets are 6-7 with three games remaining in the regular season. The playoffs are still a possibility.

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Of all the former rugby players on our list, Nate Ebner has had the most success so far this season. The New England Patriot has played in all 13 of his team’s games, registering 11 total tackles. Originally seen as only a special teams player, he has stepped up and played decent minutes on the defense. New England have locked up the AFC East and are currently sitting in a second seed for the playoffs. Ebner continues to improve every game and has become a fan favorite. Head coach Bill Belichik loves the way he plays and it’s likely he remains with the team next season.

Johnson Bademosi has also made the most of his opportunity. Despite being an undrafted rookie Bademosi has earned the respect of his teammates and was even named as the fourth captain a few weeks back. Injuries to the Browns secondary has meant that Bademosi has seen more time on the field. Typically he has just been playing special teams. Bademosi was looked at as the most likely to return to rugby, but after his strong play, that now seems less likely. The Browns still have a chance at the playoffs but it’s slim.

The season is over for Thretton Palamo and the University of Utah. Things didn’t work out the way they would have liked for either party as Palamo played in nine of the team’s contests only registering five tackles. It appears that his move from offense to defense hasn’t paid off as much as he and the coaching staff would have liked. The Utes similarly had a disappointing season and finished the season 5-7. That means they were not bowl eligible. With a new recruiting class coming in and Palamo’s inability to shine, it could be the end of his time with the Utes. He has one season remaining. It will be interesting to see whether he returns to the rugby pitch this spring, but much of that may also depend on whether Utah can sort out the current problems in its rugby program.

Paul Lasike has impressed in his first year playing American football for BYU. He’s played in 11 of his team’s 12 matches, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also has one reception for 25 yards. He is still learning and with good options ahead of him, it might be awhile before he can become a full-time starter. The Cougars will play in the Poinsettia Bowl on the 20th.