Thomas Yassmin was like fellow Australians Jordan Mailata and Daniel Faalele, who chased a dream career in a sport that they barely knew anything about.
Now both Mailata and Faalele are NFL players and Yassmin is following their lead, looking to declare for the 2024 draft. But first he is playing college football for the Utah Utes.
The Australian made an immediate impact too, catching a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cameron Rising to open the scoring for Utah in the prestigious Rose Bowl.
The Utes and Penn State Nitanny Lions were level at 14-all heading into halftime, with Yassmin targeted a few more times before the break but failing to haul in another catch.
But Yassmin, a tight end, is only continuing to improve with experience and he has seen more time on the field recently with Dalton Kincaid and Brant Kuithe sidelined by injury.
Yassmin, a product of The Scots College and former Australian Schoolboys winger, has five touchdowns to his name this season — including a 60-yard effort against USC.
His latest effort though had the ESPN commentary team impressed with just how far the Australian has come, from not even knowing how to put his pads on to scoring touchdown in the Rose Bowl.
“The former rugby player from Australia who knew nothing about football before he arrived in Utah made a big play in Dalton Kincaid’s absence,” ESPN commentator Chris Fowler said.
“A big smile from Thomas Yassmin. Can you imagine trying to deal with him on the rugby pitch — 6’5” and 250. He looks like Derrick Henry playing rugby. He’s throwing around much smaller guys.”
“That’s what he’s really known for, the ball in his hands after the catch” added Kirk Herbstreit in commentary as highlights were shown from Yassmin’s days as a rugby union player.
“That’s without pads on, the big fella running like that.”
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While Yassmin did not have experience on his side, what he did have working in his favour was a 6’5” and 250lbs frame which caught the attention of head coach Kyle Whittingham.
“Kyle Whittingham took a leap of faith on Thomas Yassmin,” sideline reporter Holly Rowe added.
“He said that, ‘I knew he could run after the catch because he did so well in rugby but when he got to us he’d never caught the ball and he didn’t actually even know how to put on his own pads’.
“He said, ‘It was pretty funny trying to watch this big guy trying to put his pads on’ but he’s learning quickly and they’re learning he has good hands. That physicality from the rugby game has translated. Sight unseen Kyle Whittingham said, ‘Bring him over’, and he’s being rewarded today.”
