Short-handed by COVID-19, Vanderbilt brings in women's soccer player as kicker
Vanderbilt football had a new face at practice on Tuesday, one that could end up making college football history.
Sarah Fuller, the starting goalkeeper on the Commodores women’s soccer team, suited up in full pads with the football team, according to Simon Gibbs of the Vanderbilt Hustler, the school’s student newspaper. While she did not attempt any kicks, she went through walkthroughs with the coaching staff.
During the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason confirmed that Fuller was at practice and that she’s “an option” to kick against Missouri on Saturday.
Mason: "She's got a strong leg. We'll see what that yields. ... Sarah's an option. She seems to be a pretty good option, so we'll figure out what that looks like on Saturday."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 25, 2020
The football team reportedly made the move with several special teams players in quarantine due to COVID-19. The women’s soccer team’s season ended earlier this month, making Fuller available.
Whether Fuller is in Vanderbilt’s plans for Saturday is unclear, but the milestone her appearance would represent is obvious.
Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller could make history
Women playing on college football teams isn’t unprecedented, but not among modern Power 5 programs.
Non-Power 5 schools make up the list of programs that have had women appear in a game, which includes New Mexico’s Katie Hnida, West Alabama’s Tonya Butler, Kent State’s April Goss, Jacksonville State’s Ashley Martin and Williamette’s Liz Heaston. All of those players appeared as kickers, though there have been non-specialists as well like Central Methodist safety Toni Harris.
That’s not to say no woman has suited up with a Power 5 team. KaLena Barnes made a punt during Nebraska’s spring game in 2000, and was preceded by women attempting to play at Duke and Louisville according to the Associated Press.
If the Commodores end up needing Fuller for a kick or punt, it appears she would be the first to ever play in a game for a Power 5 program.
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