While several major college football games were going on, history was being made in the NCAA too. Haley Van Voorhis, who plays for Division-III Shenandoah University, was the first female non-kicker to actually play safety for her team.
Van Voorhis entered the game in the first half with Shenandoah leading Junita by 26 points.
Van Voorhis played football in high school at Christchurch and she not only played but was an all-state honorable mention in 2019. She also made a couple of plays Saturday.
History is made: Shenandoah safety #10 Haley Van Voorhis becomes the first female non-kicker to appear in a college football game at the NCAA or NAIA levels for #D3FB @SUhornetsFB.
The junior hurried the QB on the play: pic.twitter.com/0mW8K6WeDG
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 23, 2023
She is not the first female football player, Sarah Fuller briefly was the place-kicker for the Vanderbilt Commodores back in 2020 and she was the first female to score points in a college football game.
Fuller talked about her experience.
“I just think it’s incredible that I am able to do this, and all I want to do is be a good influence to the young girls out there because there were times like I struggled in sports,” Fuller said at the time. “But I am so thankful I stuck with it, and it’s given me so many opportunities. I’ve met so many amazing people through sports, and I just want to say like literally you can do anything you set your mind to.”
Fuller opened the door for females like Van Voorhis to get a chance they may not have gotten years ago.
