Colorado State Awards Football Scholarship to Sumo Wrestler Hidetora Hanada

The Japan native and former amateur sumo wrestler joined the Rams program as a walk-on this season.

Hidetora Hanada is one of the more interesting players in college football, as the Colorado State defensive lineman comes from a sumo wrestling background. A native of Japan, Hanada had the opportunity to rise in the sumo wrestling world after becoming an amateur grand champion, but he instead opted to give football a chance this season.

That risk paid off, as Rams coach Jay Norvell announced the program is giving Hanada a scholarship to play for the football team.

Hanada began playing football in 2022, when he competed in the X-League in Japan. He then joined Colorado State’s football team as a walk-on in July. The 21-year-old said he wanted to challenge himself athletically in a different way.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by はなだ ひでとら　Hidetora Hanada (@torajiro.hanada)

“While competing sumo in Japan, I started thinking that I wanted to fight many strong athletes worldwide. Football is the most popular sport in the United States, and I wanted to see how I can compete in that environment,” Hanada said through a translator, via Pat Graham of The Denver Post. “I wanted to see my limit. That’s why I decided to challenge football.”

Hanada played in two games and recorded three tackles in his first collegiate season. Interestingly, Hanada chose to have the name on the back of his jersey written in Japanese as a way to connect with his home country.