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Sumo wrestler Hidetora Hanada from Japan to play college football for Colorado State

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY
·2 min read
25

The Colorado State Rams will be adding a unique player to its roster: a sumo wrestling champion from Japan.

Former amateur sumo wrestler Hidetora Hanada announced in Tokyo on Tuesday he would be joining the Rams, according to The Japan Times. He also announced his commitment on Instagram.

Hanada had his first football action in March 2022 when he participated in an X League tryout, and quickly became a football star within Japan. He made the country's national roster and gained interest from schools like Texas and Ohio State, The Japan Times reported. At Nippon Sport Science University, Hanada was an all-world sumo wrestler, winning the all-Japan title in 2020 and gold in the 2022 World Games open-weight division. He is also an amateur yokozuna in sumo, the highest rank in the sport.

Colorado State Rams defensive lineman Hidetora Hanada (93) has his name written in Japanese characters on his jersey at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium.
Colorado State Rams defensive lineman Hidetora Hanada (93) has his name written in Japanese characters on his jersey at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium.

Colorado State confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Hanada would be joining the team, but he hasn't arrived in the U.S. yet and won't arrive "for a few more weeks." Hanada will join the Rams as a junior and will have two seasons of eligibility. He will be part of the defensive line group, according to the athletic department.

While the college football world has yet to see how Hanada will perform at the FBS level, he has dreams of playing football professionally.

"I’m aware that I’ll have to give it my all to succeed. I’m more excited than nervous about the fact that I’ll have to learn how to survive and continue to aim for the NFL in a football program where I’ll be the only Japanese player, and surrounded by those speaking a different language," he told The Japan Times.

Hidetora Hanada awarded scholarship

The football dream will continue for Hanada, as he was awarded an athletic scholarship, head coach Jay Norvell announced on social media. Norvell made the announcement in Japanese.

Hanada played in two games for the Rams in the 2023 season, against Air Force and Wyoming. Against the Falcons, he recorded three tackles.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sumo wrestler Hidetora Hanada joins Colorado State football team