Former Laois under-20 footballer Ross Bolger has confirmed that he will be taking up a two-year scholarship with Division One American football university Idaho State.
The Bengals are a charter member of the Big Sky Conference and play their home games at the Holt Arena, a 12,000 indoor stadium.
Speaking to OTB Sports, Bolger said that Idaho’s faith in him as both a potential kicker and punter was one of the main reasons he accepted.
"They’re taking me as a punter and as a kicker, which means I can excel in both," he said.
"Some other colleges were saying 'we only want you as a punter or a kicker'."
Bolger is the latest Irish recruit who will head across to America with dreams of going to the top of the game.
In 2021, Kerry’s David Shanahan became the first Irish player to receive a full scholarship to play American college football as he linked up with Georgia Tech, and in one game came up against Dubliner Ben Kiernan, kicking for North Carolina's Tar Heels.
Last May, Derry’s Jude McAtamney accepted a two-year scholarship with Big Ten team Rutgers University.
Speaking to RTÉ in January, Bolger spoke of the experience of trialling with New York’s Pace University.
"I've been in contact with coaches from different universities through Twitter and the trials went very well," says Bolger.
"It was a great experience. Even if I don't end up there, it's something that will definitely benefit me in the long run.
"It was just really interesting to see the campus and the pitch. It's obviously different to kicking here on a GAA pitch or just down in the local park. It was great to go out and see the yellow goalposts and get a better idea of the pitch in regards to the 10-yard line and the left and right hashes and stuff like that."
It’s Idaho though for the two-footed punter, and the latest in a line of Irish players chasing the American dream.
