Eagles' ex-rugby star Mailata 'making progress' in learning football
When the surefire young talent in the 2018 NFL Draft started to thin out in the seventh round, the Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on 6-foot-8, 346-pound Australian rugby star Jordan Mailata with the 233rd overall pick.
The Super Bowl LII champions are hoping Mailata can adapt to the NFL game and fit the role of offensive tackle for which he seems to be a natural fit. For his part, Mailata says he's beginning to pick things up in his first week of training camp but admits there's a long way to go.
"I’m making progress. I’m getting better," Mailata said after Tuesday's practice, according to team insider Dave Spadaro. "There is still so much to take in. It’s only been a week here after the spring practices. At some point I do think it will become second nature, but I know I’m a long ways away from that now.
"I’m going to keep working hard and learn something new every day. It’s now a matter of piecing it all together. It really is a puzzle and it comes down to execution. You can have all the tools, but the challenge is to put it all in place on a consistent basis," Mailata said.
Mailata is expected to get his first taste of NFL game action when the Eagles open their preseason at home on August 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- With h/t to Pro Football Talk