Aussies and Kiwis in the NFL

Wanted to have a place that NFL and 49er fans could talk about the growth (or infestation) of Aussies in the NFL. Jarryd Hayne has had an impact on the growth in interest from downunder even though there have been many before. Below is a list of the current comitted players.

AUSSIE INVASION IN THE NFL

G David Yankey — Carolina Panthers - Placed on IR September 2017

P Brad Wing — New York Giants - Contract extended

P Jordan Berry — Pittsburgh Steelers

DT Adam Gotsis — Denver Broncos ( Could be a breakout year. 2nd year after being drafted)

P Lachlan Edwards — New York Jets (will get plenty of work 2017 season)

Kiwi (New Zealand - used to be Governed under the same regime)

TE Rhett Ellison - New York Giants (of Maori descent and family is All Black Rugby royalty)

DT Stephen Paea - Dallas Cowboys

Recent Cuts:
***********RB Jarryd Hayne — San Francisco 49ers.************Retired/reserve May 2016 won't be back
***********CB Joel Wilkinson — Arizona Cardinals ************** CUT May 2016
***********P Tom Hackett — New York Jets ************** waived July 2016
***********K Brad Craddock — Cleveland Browns**************waived May 2016
***********G Blake Muir — Indianapolis Colts - *************waived May 2017
***********P Jamie Keehn - Carolina Panthers ************* (UFA)
***********P Sam Irwin-Hill - Dallas Cowboys ************** waived September 2017
***********FB Paul Lasike - Chicago Bears************Waived May 2017

I'll start to worry when the kiwi invasion starts

Hmmm...
Certainly JH's crossover has heightened the profile of gridiron in Oz, none of the above are a result of that.
All have come through the college system, or from other sports before JH.
Except perhaps Wilkinson - Joel Wilkinson that is ;)

I'm guessing most of those are punters though? Add their positions too if you get a chance.

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:
I'm guessing most of those are punters though? Add their positions too if you get a chance.

Fixed. Of the ten four punters and one kicker. Then one running back, two guards, a defensive tackle and a corner back.

Jessie Williams from the Seahawks just got waived after fighting bouts of cancer. He was the first Aussie defensive player (DT) since Colin Scotts (DE and,TE for the Cardinals) and promised a big future.

Originally posted by Who-is-Hayne:

Hmmm...
Certainly JH's crossover has heightened the profile of gridiron in Oz, none of the above are a result of that.
All have come through the college system, or from other sports before JH.
Except perhaps Wilkinson - Joel Wilkinson that is ;)

Fixed. The other one is soccer. Oops. Agree about Hayne's influence. Maybe a few years down the road before that happens.

Speaking to friends who are closely tied to Jesse Williams there is a real feeling that the Hayne hype is unwarranted since he took a short cut and got lucky whereas most others have gone down a much harder road. We all know the price Jarryd had to pay for that.

Originally posted by 16to87:

I'll start to worry when the kiwi invasion starts

I can see you with a staff saying "you shall not pass". Lol. Kiwis and their hobbits.

I think their lack of any real production proves that you cant simply be big and/or athletic and jump into the NFL. JH is noticeably not a polished runner. he runs upright and has poor lateral movement. He's good, no doubt but imagine what he could have been if he had played American football from high school.

a CB...interesting.

Originally posted by 49glory:
I think their lack of any real production proves that you cant simply be big and/or athletic and jump into the NFL. JH is noticeably not a polished runner. he runs upright and has poor lateral movement. He's good, no doubt but imagine what he could have been if he had played American football from high school.

yep. he would've been a solid talent, no doubt about it. you have to be something really special to make the NFL with such little experience. plenty of people have the athleticism, but do they have a football mind?

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:

a CB...interesting.

Yes very interesting.. wonder how he will go

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:

Originally posted by 49glory:

I think their lack of any real production proves that you cant simply be big and/or athletic and jump into the NFL. JH is noticeably not a polished runner. he runs upright and has poor lateral movement. He's good, no doubt but imagine what he could have been if he had played American football from high school.

yep. he would've been a solid talent, no doubt about it. you have to be something really special to make the NFL with such little experience. plenty of people have the athleticism, but do they have a football mind?

Jarryd actually wanted to come over earlier and go to college in the states but he didnt graduate high school here in oz . because all he did was play football (rugby league)... he played for the team i root for here in oz for nines years... started at 18yrs old and scored a td in basically everygame he played the kid was a superstar in his rookie season...

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:
a CB...interesting.

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Sign-Aussie-Rules-Player-Joel-Wilkinson/d92a4b37-be97-40f8-ad6d-cb02f47334c7

Change the A to a P and its still about the same thing

Originally posted by valrod33:
Change the A to a P and its still about the same thing

LOL. Wait a minute. Are you putting the Great Hulk Hogan in the same reference as a feline fur ball?