DIII safety first female non-kicker to play in NCAA

• Alex Scarborough, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 23, 2023, 03:55 PM ET

  Close

  • Covers the SEC.Joined ESPN
  • in 2012.
  • Graduate of Auburn University.Haley Van Voorhis,

a safety at Division-III Shenandoah University, ended up being the very first female non-kicker to appear in an NCAA football game on Saturday against Juniata.She began in the first quarter

and signed up a quarterback rush on third down.A 5-foot-6, 145-pound junior, Voorhis spent the last two seasons using junior university. The Plains, Virginia, native went to high school at Christchurch and was 2019 All-State Honorable Mention. Her senior season was cancelled due to COVID-19. Voorhis is also a member of Shenandoah’s track and field team,

running sprints.In 2014, defensive back Shelby Osborne became the very first female non-kicker to take part in an NAIA program at Campbellsville University. Nevertheless, she did not appear in a game.Multiple females have actually played kicking positions in college football. In 2003, Kirst Hinda ended up being the first woman

to score in an NCAA Department I-A football game as the placekicker at New Mexico. Seventeen years later, Sarah Fuller ended up being the very first female to score in a Power 5 football game as the kicker at Vanderbilt.In an interview with ESPN in 2021, Voorhis stated she’s used to individuals mentioning that she’s the only lady playing football, whether it was during Pop Warner

or high school.” There’s certainly people out there who see the story and think,’This girl’s going to get harmed,'”she stated.”I hear that a lot. Or,’ She’s too small, doesn’t weigh enough, not high enough.’But I’m not the fastest on my team, and I’m not the lightest.” Shenandoah coach Scott Yoder informed ESPN in 2021 that Voorhis is”extremely figured out”young adult.” What has actually really assisted me has actually been when you peel whatever back it’s about a young adult who wants an opportunity, who works for it and has actually made an opportunity,”he stated.

“For 21 years I have actually been fortunate to be on the training side of that. And at the core of this, it’s no different. “