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Rex Sunahara
Personal information
Born: (1996-10-09) October 9, 1996 (age 28)
Bay Village, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Bay (Bay Village, Ohio)
College:
Position:Long snapper
Undrafted:2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Rex Sunahara (born October 9, 1996) is an American football long snapper who is a free agent. He played college football at Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Early life

Sunahara was born on October 9, 1996. His young brother RJ plays college basketball for Georgia, and his father, Reed Sunahara, is the head coach of the women's volleyball program at WVU.[1] He attended Bay High School, where he played varsity baseball, football, and basketball.[2][3] He played as a wide receiver and defensive back in high school.[3][4] In his senior year, he earned All-Ohio Division IV Third Team honors.[4] Rex committed to the University of Rhode Island in order to remain a multi-sport athlete and converted to playing long snapper.[3]

College career

University of Rhode Island

Sunahara played football at Rhode Island and walked on to the basketball.[5][6] During the football season, he appeared in eight games as the long snapper and rexorded 4 special teams tackles.[5] During the basketball season, he appeared in 3 games and logged 1 rebound.[6] After his first year at Rhode Island, Sunahara decided to transfer to West Virginia and attempt to walk-on to the football team.[3]

West Virginia University

Sunahara walked on to the West Virginia football team before the 2016 season and served as a backup to Nick Meadows for two years.[7] In 2018, Sunahara became the Mountaineers starting long snapper.[7] Over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Sunahara started 24 games and recorded 4 special teams tackles.[8] Following the 2019 season, Sunahara was named a Patrick Mannelly Award Semifinalist.[9][10] He was also invited to participate in the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate All-Star Game and the 2020 Hula Bowl All-Star Game.[7][11]

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Sunahara signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on August 1, 2020.[12][13] He was waived on August 4, 2020, and participated in a workout for the Pittsburgh Steelers before being signed to the Dolphins practice squad on November 16, 2020.[14][15] Sunahara signed a reserve/futures deal upon completion of the 2020 NFL season and returned to the Dolphins practice squad for the 2021 season.[14][16] Sunahara was again waived by the Dolphins on August 9, 2021.[16]

Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunahara signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 8, 2021, and was assigned to the practice squad.[17] He was cut two days later, but returned to sign a reserve/futures contract on January 18, 2022.[17] The Steelers waived him on May 10, 2022.[18][19]

San Antonio Brahmas

On November 17, 2022, Sunahara was selected with the 7th pick of the specialists phase of the 2023 XFL Draft by the San Antonio Brahmas.[20][21] He appeared in all ten games before receiving an invitation to a workout with the Steelers on June 2, 2023.[22]

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)

On June 19, 2023, Sunahara signed a one year deal with the Steelers.[23][24] He was released on August 26, 2023.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Reed Sunahara – Head Coach – Staff Directory". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  2. ^ "High school baseball: Mother nature claims yet another chance to play ball". Morning Journal. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  3. ^ a b c d Hickey, Alex (2018-10-20). "Why Rex Sunahara wanted to be a long snapper at West Virginia". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  4. ^ a b "High School Football All-Ohio List, Divisions III-IV". dayton-daily-news. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  5. ^ a b "Rex Sunahara – 2015 – Football". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. ^ a b "Rex Sunahara – 2015–16 – Men's Basketball". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. ^ a b c Knobbe, Travis (2020-01-17). "Rex Sunahara: Morgantown's Unsung Hero". Last Word on College Football. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  8. ^ "Rex Sunahara – Football". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  9. ^ Nespor, Cody (2019-11-19). "Sunahara Named Semifinalist for Long Snapping Award". WV Sports Now. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  10. ^ "OFFICIAL: Rex Sunahara Signs NFL Contract". Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  11. ^ "2020 Hula Bowl acceptances – Great Blue North Draft Report". gbnreport.com. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  12. ^ "OFFICIAL: Rex Sunahara Signs NFL Contract". Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  13. ^ "Dolphins sign UDFA long-snapper Rex Sunahara". Dolphins Wire. 2020-08-02. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  14. ^ a b "Rex Sunahara Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  15. ^ "Sunahara Returns to Miami". Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  16. ^ a b "Steelers Add New LS Rex Sunahara". Sports Illustrated Pittsburgh Steelers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  17. ^ a b "Who Is Rex Sunahara? Wikipedia Bio Of NFL Long Snapper Released By Pittsburgh Steelers". celebseek.com. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  18. ^ "Steelers waive former WVU long snapper Sunahara". WBOY.com. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  19. ^ Williams, Charean (2023-06-20). "Steelers sign Rex Sunahara". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  20. ^ San Antonio Brahmas [@XFLBrahmas]. "With our first pick in the specialists round of the #XFLDraft, we proudly select @RexSunahara! Welcome to San Antonio." Twitter, 11 November 2022, https://twitter.com/XFLBrahmas/status/1593286433900441600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1593286433900441600%7Ctwgr%5E21c7a9072d6999f7ee7687e6654a6870f2c3c546%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwvsportsnow.com%2Fformer-mountaineer-rex-sunahara-drafted-by-xfls-san-antonio-brahmas%2F
  21. ^ Asti, Mike (2022-11-18). "Former Mountaineer Rex Sunahara Drafted by XFL's San Antonio Brahmas". WV Sports Now. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  22. ^ "Former WVU long snapper receives workout invite from Steelers". WBOY.com. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  23. ^ Ulrich, Logan (2023-06-19). "Steelers Signing LS Rex Sunahara". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  24. ^ "Steelers sign XFL long snapper Rex Sunahara". Steelers Wire. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  25. ^ Grindley, Wyatt (2023-08-26). "Steelers Cut Eight Players". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
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