Rex Sunahara
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rex Sunahara
| image = Rex Sunahara (53727320987) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Sunahara with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024
| current_team = Cleveland Browns
| number = 50
| position = Long snapper
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|9}}
| birth_place = Bay Village, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 242
| high_school = Bay {{avoid wrap|(Bay Village)}}
| college = {{ubl|Rhode Island (2015)|West Virginia (2016–2019)}}
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{XFL Year|2023}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{UFL Year|2024}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 =
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 =
| statvalue2 =
| pfr = SunaRe00
}}
Rex Sunahara (born October 9, 1996) is an American professional football long snapper for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rhode Island Rams and West Virginia Mountaineers.
Early life
Sunahara was born on October 9, 1996. His younger brother RJ plays college basketball for Georgia, and his father, Reed Sunahara, is the head coach of the women's volleyball program at WVU.{{Cite web |title=Reed Sunahara – Head Coach – Staff Directory |url=https://wvusports.com/staff-directory/reed-sunahara/476 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=West Virginia University Athletics |language=en}} He attended Bay High School, where he played varsity baseball, football, and basketball.{{Cite web |date=2014-04-28 |title=High school baseball: Mother nature claims yet another chance to play ball |url=https://www.morningjournal.com/sports/high-school-baseball-mother-nature-claims-yet-another-chance-to-play-ball/article_d1e34b38-6f65-5e2f-8055-3d4767885d6a.html/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Morning Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hickey |first=Alex |date=2018-10-20 |title=Why Rex Sunahara wanted to be a long snapper at West Virginia |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2018/10/20/why-rex-sunahara-wanted-to-be-a-long-snapper-at-west-virginia/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}} He played as a wide receiver and defensive back in high school.{{Cite web |title=High School Football All-Ohio List, Divisions III-IV |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/high-school/high-school-football-all-ohio-list-divisions-iii/uWIOBHMHqh9JYAgrQkUrvK/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=dayton-daily-news |language=English}} In his senior year, he earned All-Ohio Division IV Third Team honors. Rex committed to the University of Rhode Island in order to remain a multi-sport athlete and converted to playing long snapper.
College career
= University of Rhode Island =
Sunahara played football at Rhode Island and walked on to the basketball.{{Cite web |title=Rex Sunahara – 2015 – Football |url=https://gorhody.com/sports/football/roster/rex-sunahara/980 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=University of Rhode Island |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rex Sunahara – 2015–16 – Men's Basketball |url=https://gorhody.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/rex-sunahara/559 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=University of Rhode Island |language=en}} During the football season, he appeared in eight games as the long snapper and recorded 4 special teams tackles. During the basketball season, he appeared in 3 games and logged 1 rebound. After his first year at Rhode Island, Sunahara decided to transfer to West Virginia and attempt to walk-on to the football team.
= 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.{{Cite web |last=Knobbe |first=Travis |date=2020-01-17 |title=Rex Sunahara: Morgantown's Unsung Hero |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/collegefootball/2020/01/17/rex-sunahara-morgantowns-unsung-hero/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Last Word on College Football |language=en-US}} In 2018, Sunahara became the Mountaineers starting long snapper. Over the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Sunahara started 24 games and recorded 4 special teams tackles.{{Cite web |title=Rex Sunahara – Football |url=https://wvusports.com/sports/football/roster/rex-sunahara/9213 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=West Virginia University Athletics |language=en}} Following the 2019 season, Sunahara was named a Patrick Mannelly Award Semifinalist.{{Cite web |last=Nespor |first=Cody |date=2019-11-19 |title=Sunahara Named Semifinalist for Long Snapping Award |url=https://wvsportsnow.com/sunahara-named-semifinalist-for-long-snapping-award/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=WV Sports Now |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=OFFICIAL: Rex Sunahara Signs NFL Contract |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/mountaineers-in-the-pros/official-rex-sunahara-signs-nfl-contract |access-date=2023-07-28}} He was also invited to participate in the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate All-Star Game and the 2020 Hula Bowl All-Star Game.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-11 |title=2020 Hula Bowl acceptances – Great Blue North Draft Report |url=https://gbnreport.com/2020-hula-bowl/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=gbnreport.com |language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6 1/4
| weight = 249
| arm span = 35 1/8
| hand span = 10 1/2
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028455&DraftYear=2020 |title=Rex Sunahara College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=June 21, 2024}}
}}
= Miami Dolphins =
Sunahara signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on August 1, 2020.{{Cite news |title=OFFICIAL: Rex Sunahara Signs NFL Contract |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/mountaineers-in-the-pros/official-rex-sunahara-signs-nfl-contract |access-date=2023-07-29}}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-02 |title=Dolphins sign UDFA long-snapper Rex Sunahara |url=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/02/dolphins-sign-udfa-long-snapper-rex-sunahara/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Dolphins Wire |language=en-US |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729130437/https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2020/08/02/dolphins-sign-udfa-long-snapper-rex-sunahara/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |title=Rex Sunahara Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SunaRe00.htm |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Sunahara Returns to Miami |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/mountaineers-in-the-pros/sunahara-returns-to-miami |access-date=2023-07-29}} Sunahara signed a reserve/futures deal upon completion of the 2020 NFL season and returned to the Dolphins practice squad for the 2021 season.{{Cite news |title=Steelers Add New LS Rex Sunahara |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated Pittsburgh Steelers News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-new-ls-rex-sunahara |access-date=2023-07-29}} Sunahara was again waived by the Dolphins on August 9, 2021.
= Pittsburgh Steelers =
Sunahara signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 8, 2021, and was assigned to the practice squad.{{Cite web |title=Who Is Rex Sunahara? Wikipedia Bio Of NFL Long Snapper Released By Pittsburgh Steelers |url=https://celebseek.com/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=celebseek.com |language=en}} He was cut two days later, but returned to sign a reserve/futures contract on January 18, 2022. The Steelers waived him on May 10, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Steelers waive former WVU long snapper Sunahara |url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/wvu-football/steelers-waive-former-wvu-long-snapper-sunahara/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=WBOY.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=2023-06-20 |title=Steelers sign Rex Sunahara |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/steelers-sign-rex-sunahara |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
= 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.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{{Cite web |last=Asti |first=Mike |date=2022-11-18 |title=Former Mountaineer Rex Sunahara Drafted by XFL's San Antonio Brahmas |url=https://wvsportsnow.com/former-mountaineer-rex-sunahara-drafted-by-xfls-san-antonio-brahmas/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=WV Sports Now |language=en-US}} He appeared in all ten games before receiving an invitation to a workout with the Steelers on June 2, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-03 |title=Former WVU long snapper receives workout invite from Steelers |url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/former-wvu-long-snapper-receives-workout-invite-from-steelers/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=WBOY.com |language=en-US}}
= Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint) =
On June 19, 2023, Sunahara signed a one-year deal with the Steelers.{{Cite web |last=Ulrich |first=Logan |date=2023-06-19 |title=Steelers Signing LS Rex Sunahara |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/steelers-signing-ls-rex-sunahara/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Steelers sign XFL long snapper Rex Sunahara |url=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2023/06/19/nfl-steelers-sign-xfl-long-snapper-rex-sunahara/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Steelers Wire |language=en-US}} He was released on August 26, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Grindley |first=Wyatt |date=2023-08-26 |title=Steelers Cut Eight Players |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/steelers-cut-eight-players/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}
= San Antonio Brahmas (second stint) =
On January 24, 2024, Sunahara re-signed with the San Antonio Brahmas.{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The United Football League, the premier spring football league, has agreed to terms with the following 8 players for the upcoming 2024 season. |number=1750315489593528795 |date=January 24, 2024 |access-date=January 24, 2024}} His contract was terminated on August 8.{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1821667706212643294 |date=August 8, 2024 |access-date=August 12, 2024}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On August 8, 2024, Sunahara signed with the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web |title=Browns sign LS Rex Sunahara |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-ls-rex-sunahara |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |access-date=9 August 2024}} He was waived on August 26, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web |title=Browns reduce roster to 74 players, return 5 to active roster |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-reduce-roster-to-78-players-return-5-to-active-roster |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |access-date=27 August 2024}}{{cite web|title=Browns sign 13 players to the practice squad|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-13-to-practice-squad|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=August 28, 2024}} He was released a few days later.{{cite web|title=Browns sign RB D'Onta Foreman, add five to practice squad|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-rb-d-onta-foreman-add-five-to-practice-squad|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=August 29, 2024}} He was signed to the active roster on October 9.{{cite web|title=Browns place Charley Hughlett on injured reserve|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-place-charley-hughlett-on-injured-reserve|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=October 9, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/rex-sunahara/ Cleveland Browns bio]
- [https://gorhody.com/sports/football/roster/rex-sunahara/980 Rhode Island Rams bio]
{{Cleveland Browns roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sunahara, Rex}}
Category:American football long snappers
Category:Arlington Renegades players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:San Antonio Brahmas players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Rhode Island Rams football players
Category:Rhode Island Rams men's basketball players
Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football players
Category:American sportspeople of Japanese descent