Aussie NFL hopeful Daniel Faalele drafted by Baltimore Ravens

Melbourne-born Daniel Faalele was drafted by the Ravens on Sunday and is now officially the heaviest player in the NFL.

Faalele is officially an NFL player. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

The NFL dreams of Aussie Daniel Faalele came true on Sunday morning (AEST) when he was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens with the 110th pick of this year’s draft.

At 2.03m tall and 174kg, Faalele looks set to become the heaviest player in the NFL and the fifth-heaviest in the history of the league if he maintains his weight.

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It is a life-changing moment for Faalele, who had met with the Ravens before the draft.

The Ravens targeted the Aussie as one of the 30 players they were able to interview and evaluate medically.

Faalele left the meeting excited to work with Baltimore’s offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris.

“When I took my 30 visit to the Ravens I had a really good feeling,” he told the team.

Faalele offers raw talent and brute strength. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)

“Coach ‘D’ is an awesome coach. We had a great meeting. He talked about how he’s coached Orlando Brown [Jr.] and stuff before.

“He just gave me that confidence. I know I’m in good hands. I had a good feeling there that we would be a good fit, and I’m just happy that everything worked out.”

Melbourne-born Faalele had no American football experience when he was discovered in his teen years by a coach from the University of Hawaii.

Like Aussie NFL superstar Jordan Mailata, Faalele had a rugby background but the movement skills he developed playing basketball made him especially attractive to scouts, as did his fearsome size.

The NFL Research Database dates back to 2003 and lists no heavier player to have taken part in a draft combine than Faalele.

Faalele at the Draft Combine this year. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Faalele feature in the University of Minnesota’s offensive line from 2018 and started at right tackle in 31 of the 34 college football games he played.

He earned All-Big Ten honourable mentions in 2018 and 2019 and in 2021, the Big Ten Conference’s coaches selected in him the All-Big Ten First Team.

The Aussie became a cult hero in December when he lined up at fullback in the last game of his college career and barrelled over for a touchdown from short-range.

A video of the touchdown, the first of Faalele’s career, circulated widely online.

Originally published as Aussie NFL hopeful Daniel Faalele drafted by Baltimore Ravens