On Saturday, Haley Van Voorhis—a safety for Division III Shenandoah University—became the first woman to play a position other than kicker in an NCAA football game.
The junior, who stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds, recorded a quarterback hurry in Shenandoah’s 48-7 victory over Juniata at home. Just as he released the ball, she threw the quarterback to the ground, and the third-down pass went incomplete.
Van Voorhis told The Washington Post that it is “amazing.” “I only wanted to leave and pursue my interests. I want to demonstrate to everyone what I am capable of doing and what women are capable of. It’s a major occasion. I’m thrilled at how I was able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.
The most recent victory for women in collegiate football was Van Voorhis’ accomplishment. The first woman who scored in a Power Five conference game occurred in 2020 when Sarah Fuller of Vanderbilt made two extra points.
On October 18, 1997, Liz Heaston made history by scoring the first touchdown in college football for Willamette of the NAIA with two extra points.
On August 30, 2003, Katie Hnida converted two extra points for New Mexico to become the first female FBS scorer. When she made an extra point for Kent State in 2015, April Goss became the second player to do it. For Division II West Alabama on September 13, 2003, Tonya Butler became the first female kicker and field goal maker in an NCAA game.