Australian star Thomas Yassmin scores touchdown in Rose Bowl

A one-time NRL prospect has sent the ESPN commentary team into a spin after scoring a touchdown in front of 90,000 fans and eager NFL scouts. WATCH THE VIDEO

A touchdown from Australian Thomas Yassmin wasn’t enough to help the Utah Utes secure the Rose Bowl in America’s most prestigious college game.

In front of 90,000 people, and eager-eyed NFL scouts, the one-time NRL prospect made his presence felt, scoring Utah’s first touchdown in their 35-21 loss to Penn State.

The Utah tight-end and schoolboy rugby star, who knocked back interest from NRL clubs Brisbane and Manly and Super Rugby’s NSW Waratahs, had an immediate impact after coming into the game, putting the Utes on the board against Penn State in the second quarter.

Yassmin, 23, took a one-yard catch from quarterback Cam Rising to score the touchdown, sending the ESPN commentary team into a spin calling the game watched by an estimated 16 million-plus fans in the US.

Thomas Yassmin scores a touchdown for the Utah Utes in the 2023 Rose Bowl. Picture: Getty Images

“The former rugby player from Australia who knew nothing about football, made a big play in Dalton Kincaid’s absence,” ESPN commentator Chris Fowler said.

“He’s been asked to step up, he secures that ball (from the throw), falls and that’s a touchdown.

ESPN commentators fawned over Yassmin, while showing clips of him playing schoolboy rugby for The Scots College in Sydney shortly after he scored the touchdown.

“Can you imagine trying to deal with him on a rugby pitch, 6’5 and 240 pounds. He looks like Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans running back) playing rugby, he throws around much smaller guys. He’s got strong hands too,” Kirk Herbstreit added in commentary as Yassmin’s rugby highlight reel was beamed to the world.

Yassmin has played more games for the Utes in the last four months than his last four years after tight-ends Dalton Kincaid and Brant Kuithe went down injured.

Tuesday’s touchdown, scored at a packed Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, takes Yassmin’s tally to six from as many games.

Thomas Yassmin celebrates after scoring a touchdown for the Utah Utes against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2023 Rose Bowl. Picture: Getty Images

Yassmin wasn’t the only Australian on the field, Jack Bouwmeester also featured as a punter for Utah.

Penn State hit back with a 10-yard touchdown from Mitchell Tinsley but the Utes had an immediate answer through running back Ja’quiden Jackson.

The Utes and Penn State went to halftime locked at 14-all.

Penn State’s speedster Singleton produced a run that is destined to feature on his NFL draft highlights reel in the second half. The running back handed Penn State the lead in the third quarter with a 87-yard touchdown, leaving the Utes offense in his wake.

Singleton’s run was the first of Penn State’s long-range efforts in the third quarter. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith went 88 yards on a scoring reception. The touchdown pass was the longest in Rose Bowl history.

Utah’s hopes of avenging last year’s Rose Bowl three-point loss to Ohio State Buckeyes took a huge hit when quarterback rising left the field with a knee injury.

It was a case of deja vu for Utes fans with Rising leaving the field for a second year in a row, after he was wiped out with a concussion in last year’s match.

Penn State went on to score 28 unanswered points, before a consolation touchdown to Utah late in the fourth quarter, to claim the 109th Rose Bowl.

Originally published as Australian star Thomas Yassmin scores touchdown in Rose Bowl