A women's soccer star has joined Vanderbilt's COVID-riddled football team, and if she plays, she will make history

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A women's soccer star has joined Vanderbilt's COVID-riddled football team, and if she plays, she will make history
With its specialists in COVID-19 quarantine, Vanderbilt could make history by using women's soccer goalie Sarah Fuller as the team's kicker.AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
  • Many of Vanderbilt football's specialists may miss the team's next game due to COVID-19 quarantine.
  • Commodores head coach Derek Mason confirmed Wednesday that Sarah Fuller, the goalkeeper for the school's women's soccer team, could kick for the team against Missouri Saturday.
  • If she plays, Fuller will make history as the first woman to participate in a Power 5 football game.
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Vanderbilt football is on the cusp of making history.

With many of head coach Derek Mason kicking specialists in quarantine, thanks to COVID-19 protocols and his back against the wall, he may take the unprecedented step of tapping a soccer player as the Commodores' placekicker — and a women's soccer player, at that.

A women's soccer star has joined Vanderbilt's COVID-riddled football team, and if she plays, she will make history
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

In an interview with 102.5 The Game in Nashville on Wednesday, coach Derek Mason said that Sarah Fuller, a senior goalkeeper for Vanderbilt's women's soccer team, "is an option" to suit up for the Commodores on Saturday. Should the starting netminder take a snap for Mason's squad, she'll make history as the first woman ever to participate in a Power 5 football game.

"Right now, we're just looking at all options," Mason said on ESPN 102.5 The Game. "For us, talking to Sarah, she's a champ, and no pun intended. Just coming off an SEC Championship in soccer… She's a complete competitor. She's an option for us. Right now, that's where we sit."

A post shared by Sarah Fuller (@sarah_f27)

Fuller practiced with the team this week, which was first reported by the Vanderbilt Hustler. The Wylie, Texas, native did not take any kicks despite wearing full pads and a uniform. But according to the Hustler's sources, Fuller partook in walkthroughs with the coaching staff.

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The Commodores are set to face the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, but it remains unclear whether Fuller is slated to hit the gridiron or travel with the team.

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