Mailata grew up in Australia and played rugby for teams like the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, but once video clips of the 6-foot-8, 346-pound phenom hit the internet, Mailata was invited to try out for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program before joining the Eagles as a seventh-round pick in 2018.

The former Beatrice tight end moved to center at Nebraska when Scott Frost suggested it — now Cam Jurgens is a NFL Pro Bowler.