Soslan Gagloev is a 6-foot-4, 308-pound defensive tackle who was named to South Florida’s 2012 football roster. What sets the Russian-born Gagloev apart from every other current college player is his sporting background: Sumo wrestler.
Four years ago, he was a rising 19-year-old star in Japan’s sumo division before receiving a lifetime ban following an arrest for marijuana possession and allegations of match-fixing.
Gagloev transferred to USF after two seasons at Webber International, an NAIA school in Babson Park, FL.
Bulls head coach Skip Holtz has allowed life to imitate art, bringing in a sumo wrestler to do battle in the trenches a la Gene Hackman’s character in The Replacements. No word on whether Shane “Footsteps” Falco will push B.J. Daniels for the starting QB job.
