Tyler Vargaβs dream to play in the NFL has come true.
After an impressive preseason, the 5β11, 224 pound running back from Kitchener, Ontario has cracked the Indianapolis Coltsβ 53 man roster:
BREAKING: Former @Yale_Football running back @TyVarga ’15 has officially made the 53-man roster for the Indianapolis @Colts! #FeedVarga
β YDN Sports (@YDNsports) September 5, 2015
On Thursday night, Varga continued to make a case for himself as he had 54 yards on 11 carries in the Colts preseason 9-6 victory over Cincinnati Bengals.
The Colts signed Varga to a free agent deal (3 year contract) right after the 2015 NFL Draft.
This has been a dream year on the gridiron for Varga.Β Prior to the Colts, Varga enjoyed a successful career with NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision team Yale Bulldogs.Β This past January, Varga tallied two majors to power the North squad to a 34-13 victory over the South squad at the 2015 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
During his time with the Bulldogs, Varga was selected as the recipient of the Bushnell Cup, given the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year. This past season, Varga been selected as a First βTeam All-Ivy League for the third time in his career, Gold Helmet as the Top Senior in New England, Swede Nelson Award (top scholar athlete) and National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar Athlete Award.
In the 2014 season, the tailback rushed for 1,423 yards (an average of 6.1 yards per carry, 142 yards per game) in 10 games.Β He also set a team record with 26 touchdowns (22 rushing, four receiving). During his career with the Bulldogs, Varga has amassed 2,985 rushing yards on 529 carries and 31 rushing touchdowns.The Ontario native has reached the 200 rushing yard plateau on three occasions and the 100 yard mark more than 17 times. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as NCAA FBS Offensive Player of the Year as well as the William Campbell Trophy which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies community service, academic and football.
Previous to the Bulldogs, Varga has suited up north of the border for the Western Mustangs where he was CIS Rookie of the Year in 2011.Β He played high school football for Cameron Heights Golden Gaels of the Waterloo County Secondary School Athletic Association (WCSSAA).
However, another Canadian was not so lucky. Henoc Muamba was cut from the Colts after one year with the team. Β In 2014, the linebacker was a reserve player for the team and in 13 games, registered six tackles.
The first pick in the 2011 CFL Draft, Muamba came to the Colts after a three year stint with the CFLβs Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Muamba, a native of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo has previously suited up for both the CISβ St. Francis Xavier X-Men and Father Michael Goetz Gators of the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA).
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