Groundbreaking Breakthrough: Meet Haley Van Voorhis, NCAA's First Non-Kicking Female Football Player

Haley Van Voorhis made history over the weekend as she became the first woman to play in an NCAA football game in a position other than kicker. Van Voorhis, who plays as a safety for Division-III Shenandoah University, entered the game with less than a minute left in the first quarter during her team's win against Juniata College, with a final score of 48-7.

The 19-year-old recorded a quarterback hurry as he tackled the Juniata QB immediately after he threw the ball, causing the pass to be incomplete.

"It's incredible," Van Voorhis expressed to the Washington Post. "I simply wanted to showcase my abilities and demonstrate what women are capable of doing, including myself."

This is a significant moment for me. I have accomplished the seemingly impossible and I am filled with excitement about it. Van Voorhis, a junior standing at 5-foot-6 and weighing 145 pounds, holds the distinction of being the first female player in Christchurch's high school football team. The Washington Post recognized her achievement by appointing her as the team captain.

Haley Van Voorhis (#10) registered a quarterback hurry.

Keric Jackson/Shenandoah Athletic Communications

University president Tracy Fitzsimmons called it "an extraordinary accomplishment for women everywhere."

"I am thrilled for Haley as she has truly earned this accomplishment. At Shenandoah, we continually emphasize that we provide opportunities, and today we have demonstrated it once again," expressed Fitzsimmons, according to the Washington Post.

In 2020, Sarah Fuller, a kicker for Vanderbilt, made history by becoming the first woman to score in a Power Five college game. She successfully kicked two extra points during the game against the University of Tennessee.