Report: Jets sign rugby player Hayden Smith; coach sees him as TE
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| Can Hayden Smith, formerly a rugby player, soar in New York? (Getty) |
And that's exactly what the Jets have done reportedly, signing a 26-year named Hayden Smith. That's the word from Smith's personal coach, former University of Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, who is touting the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder as a tight end.
“A lot of coaches shy away from guys who haven't played the game, because it is an exhausting process,” Brewster told the Daily Telegraph of Australia (via the NY Post). “To me, that's the exciting part. Taking a piece of clay like that. And I am going to tell you Hayden Smith is one beautiful piece of clay. Just mold him into what you want him to be.”
Smith hasn't played much football, though he was a Division II college basketball player at Metropolitan State in Denver.
He played rugby for the U.S. national team before playing pro ball rugby in England. But, um, he doesn't have much, if any experience, in his new job, right?
Doesn't necessarily matter to Brewster, who called Smith “football smart.”
@DrewfromJersey Football makes sense to him. Understands concepts, a one-time learner. Smart with great work ethic = NFL player.
— Tim Brewster (@TimBrewster) April 3, 2012
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