Rees-Zammit's NFL position as rugby star quits sport to chase his dream
Rugby star LLouis Rees-Zammit has left everyone stunned by announcing he's quitting the sport to try his luck in the NFL.
The 22-year-old Welsh international, who played for Gloucester, is leaving rugby immediately to join the NFL's International Player Pathway Programme (IPP). He'll be competing with other hopefuls from around the world, aiming to earn a spot on an NFL practice squad and eventually, an NFL team.
The big question now is - what position will he play? That is something both Rees-Zammit and NFL coaches need to figure out as he steps into this new sport. Here, we taking a look at his options and how he measures up physically to those already playing in the NFL.
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Louis Rees-Zammit's stats:
Height: 6ft 3 (75.2 inches)
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Weight: 216lbs
Top speed: 24.2MPH
The Wales international has quit rugby to try and make it in the NFL (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)Wide receiver
Rees-Zammit could likely be a wide receiver, given his body type and attributes. He's got speed like Tyreek Hill and is known for his attacking prowess in rugby.
But there's one big question - can he catch? Olympic sprinter Dwayne Chambers tried to make it as a wide receiver but struggled with catching balls over his shoulder and it is certainly a unique and different skill.
The only way to know if Rees-Zammit can be a wide receiver is by testing his skills with some throws. If he has the natural hand-eye coordination and speed, he could be perfect for running the route tree and testing defences.
Average NFL wide receiver: 72.58 inches (just over 6-feet tall), 199.35lbs
Defensive back
If catching isn't his strong suit, then guarding those who can might be a better fit. He's tall, quick, and could guard elite receivers if he learns the position well.
However, playing on defense might be a bit tricky initially due to its complexity. He'll need to quickly develop a football IQ, but he might have the physical capabilities to match up with the best one-on-one.
Another important skill Rees-Zammit would need on the defensive side is tackling. His defence in rugby has been questioned, which could be a concern, especially as he'd need to learn a new tackling technique with shoulder pads and a helmet.
Average NFL defensive back: 71.9 inches (just under 6-feet tall), 198.01lbs
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Running back
Many rugby players who have switched to American Football, like Christian Wade and Jarryd Hayne, have played as running backs. This position doesn't require much catching of deep throws and has similarities with a rugby winger trying to break through a defensive line.
Rees-Zammit is known for his speed and elusiveness but may be too slim for a running back (David Rogers/Getty Images)Rees-Zammit's skill at finding small gaps and breaking free for big gains could make him a good fit for this role. However, he is taller and lighter than the average running back. For example, Derrick Henry is also 6ft 3 but weighs 247lbs.
To become a running back, Rees-Zammit would need to bulk up to handle the physical demands of the position. While it's possible he could gain weight with more lifting and less cardio, it's unclear how this might affect his speed and dynamism.
Average NFL running back: 70.66 inches (just over 5-foot-10), 213.17 pounds.
Kick returner
Another option for Rees-Zammit could be starting as a kick returner, using his speed and elusiveness to try and make big plays.
Returning a deep kick isn't too different from what Rees-Zammit does as a back-three player in rugby. He's used to making line breaks from deep and using his explosive speed to gain lots of yards.
He has the vision in those scenarios which could make him a big hit in the NFL, and it's also a role that involves little in terms of football IQ or learning plays.
Rees-Zammit was not known for his ability catching a high ball in rugby but could be a kick returner (Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)The big question would be his ability to catch high, swirling punts and make the right decisions under pressure. He's not exactly known for being good at catching a high ball in rugby, but those scenarios come under a lot of direct pressure from other players jumping simultaneously to try and catch the ball.
It seems most likely that he'd initially look to carve out a role as a kick returner, then hopefully find himself able to be used as an offensive weapon who can move around the formations, run different routes, potentially run from the backfield and run jet sweeps.
Given his speed and open-field running, teams will likely want to get him in open space and let his speed do the talking. It will be fascinating to see how Rees-Zammit's NFL career pans out, and finding a coaching staff who can creatively fit him into their system could be key to him making a success of it.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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