Aussie giant makes surprise college choice

Dec 10, 2017 - 7:24 PM Australian teenage giant Daniel Faalele has spurned offers from America's elite football colleges to accept a scholarship at the University of Minnesota.

The Melbourne 18-year-old is 206cm tall, weighs 180kg, wears size-18 shoes and has spent the past year at the elite IMG Academy in Florida.

Faalele had never played a game of American football until he arrived in the US, but his gargantuan size and potential as a lineman resulted in scholarship offers from 20 teams including college powerhouses Alabama, Auburn, Louisiana State, Florida State and Miami.

"I am 1000 per cent committed to the University of Minnesota," Faalale, making his much-anticipated announcement on Twitter, wrote.

It was a surprise move, with the Golden Gophers not considered to be at the same level of most of the colleges pursuing his signature.

"Please respect my decision," Faalale added, seemingly anticipating criticism.

IMG coach Kevin Wright thought it was an "urban legend" when he first heard whispers about the young Australian with monstrous physical dimensions and has spent the past year schooling the raw recruit.

Minnesota scored big with IMG recruits, with Faalale's team-mates Curtis Dunlap Jr, a top offensive lineman, and quarterback Zack Annexstad joining the Gophers.

Source: AAP