RQU HQ – The weekend prior to the NFL Draft, I had the opportunity to highlight former Brigham Young University rugger and fullback Paul Lasike about his opportunity to find a new
home via the draft.
While Lasike was not drafted last weekend, he has found a new home. The Auckland-born dual-sport athlete has signed an undrafted rookie free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
“I’ve been saying the whole time that this is all I wanted,” Lasike said of his new opportunity, via The Daily Herald. “It’s a chance to go turn heads.”
After learning he’d have the opportunity to tryout for the Atlanta Falcons on May 2, Lasike got word from the Cardinals the following day that he had been offered a spot on the team’s 90-man roster.
“I’ve got work cut out for me, but I’m happy,” said the rookie. “I know I can make it with my physicality.”
While Lasike is one of seven running backs on the Arizona roster, it looks like he’s just one of two fullbacks. So, Lasike’s situation with the Cardinals is pretty simple. If he can beat out Robert Hughes, the man ahead of him on the depth chart, the former BYU rugger should win the Cardinals’ fullback spot. However, there is a chance that the Cardinals could choose not to hold a fullback on their roster, but that’s unlikely.
And considering Hughes was a practice squad player himself two years ago and isn’t a highly touted fullback in the NFL, Lasike does have a shot at making the roster.
“I’ve got work cut out for me, but I’m happy,” Lasike said. “I know I can make it with my physicality.”
Lasike arrived in Arizona for the Cardinals’ rookie mini-camp Thursday, with the camp starting Friday.
“I never thought in million years I’d get on opportunity like this or get this far,” Lasike said.
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