Haley Van Voorhis, a junior safety for Shenandoah University, became the first woman in NCAA history to play a non-kicking position in a college football game.
On September 23, 2023, Haley Van Voorhis, a junior safety for Shenandoah University, entered a Division III football game against Juniata College at Shentel Stadium in Winchester, Virginia. In the first quarter of the contest, she recorded a quarterback hurry on defense, marking a genuine snap of live-action football participation rather than a ceremonial or specialty appearance.
This moment made her the first woman in NCAA history to appear in a college football game at any level in a non-kicking position, breaking a barrier that had persisted since the NCAA's founding. While a handful of women had previously kicked field goals or extra points for college teams, defensive and offensive positions requiring full-contact tackling, blocking, and coverage responsibilities had remained exclusively male domains at the collegiate level.
Van Voorhis's achievement was the culmination of years of preparation: she had played youth and high school football in Virginia before walking onto Shenandoah's roster, proving her ability to compete physically with men in one of America's most contact-intensive sports. Her appearance was widely covered by ESPN, NPR, ABC News, and other major outlets, cementing her status as a trailblazer.
The achievement carries lasting significance for gender equity in sports, demonstrating that women can compete in full-contact, non-specialty roles in American football at the college level, and inspiring a new generation of girls interested in playing football beyond the kicking game.