RWU HQ – When former NRL star Jarryd Hayne made the switch, jumping from rugby to football and more specifically the NFL, the original plan was for the rugger to be in the league by the 2015 season.
Now it seems like Hayne may make his NFL debut even sooner. According to the Detroit News, the Detroit Lions are one of six franchises interested in Hayne; who flew to the U.S this past Sunday.
The fact that the Lions are a team that is tied to Hayne is not surprising. The former Parramatta Eels star met Lions running back Reggie Bush earlier this year, and Bush was one of the people who influenced the former rugger to consider a change of scenery.
“He’s a great athlete and I told him I definitely think he has a future in the NFL if he’s serious about it,” Bush said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I just think he’s a good athlete. I’ve seen some of his film, I watched him and he has all the skill sets that it takes to play in the NFL.”
When speaking with the Guardian, Bush felt that Hayne could suit up with the Lions right now.
“He actually looks like an NFL running back,” Bush said. “Looks like he could come play with us tomorrow. He’s fast, strong and … wow. Look at that hit. That’s an NFL football hit. I like this guy.”
However, Lions head coach Jim Caldwell told reporters Monday that he had heard of Hayne, but had no knowledge of whether or not his team had interest in the 6-foot-2 stud.
“I can’t tell you much about that. I know who he is, obviously, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell you,” Caldwell said. ‘” have no knowledge of it in that regard.
“It could be a personnel issue, but I’m not aware of it.”
Either way it looks like Hayne will have his chance to test his abilities in the league sooner rather than later, and us here at RWU are excited to see what’s next!
“We’ll take it week by week and see where I’m at and whether I’m in that condition to progress for a trial or not,” the newest dual-sport athlete said of his future. “If we go down that avenue, then so be it.
“But the overall plan is for 12 months and to do as much training as I can and to prepare and to learn all the routes, learn all the schemes. … I just want to get the basics down pat.”
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