Forrest Rhyne

BIOGRAPHY

Forrest Rhyne, born on May 29, 1999, is an accomplished American professional football player. He’s famed for his prowess as a linebacker and at the moment is a free agent. Having a strong foundation in college football at Villanova, Rhyne transformed into a competent athlete, a journey that led him to become a revered figure in the sport.

Forrest grew up in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where he attended Waynesboro Area Senior High School. His exceptional talent started to show there as he was awarded the All-State Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Mid-Penn Colonial Conference when he was just a junior. This award came after he made an astounding 151 tackles. His stunning performance was not a one-off event, as he repeated as an All-State selection during his senior year after recording 112 tackles with 21 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Scouts didn’t miss the chance to recognize this gem. He was rated a two-star recruit and decided to play college football at Villanova over offers from other prestigious institutions like Columbia, Holy Cross, Richmond, and Robert Morris.

Rhyne’s tenure at Villanova was marked by significant milestones. He played college football for the Wildcats for five seasons, within which he rapidly ascended into a starting position at linebacker during his junior season. His stats were impressive, finishing the season with 116 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. His execution earned him a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) title.

Notably, Rhyne was once again a first-team All-CAA selection during his senior season, which was abridged due to existing COVID-19 protocols in the United States. In spite of these challenges, he brilliantly utilized the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes in 2020 due to the pandemic. His stellar performance in the final season saw him record 153 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one fumble recovery. Consequently, Rhyne was crowned the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and an FCS All-American. He closed his college years with a remarkable record of 310 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Forrest Rhyne began his professional journey with the Indianapolis Colts, signing as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. Despite being waived during the final roster cuts on August 30, 2022, Rhyne re-emerged in the team’s practice squad the following day. He experienced another disappointment, being waived on September 27, 2022, but was re-signed to the practice squad on October 25. He was promoted to the active roster on November 28, 2022, allowing him to make his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rhyne looked forward to a productive season after signing a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.

However, Rhyne was waived on May 4, 2023, but this did not deter him. On August 13, 2023, he inked a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released soon after on August 26, 2023.

In search of new adventures, Rhyne went international on January 9, 2024, when he signed with the BC Lions. His stint in the Canadian Football League was, however, short-lived. He faced suspension on May 24, 2024, but was subsequently reinstated on May 30, 2024. Shortly afterward, on June 2, 2024, Forrest Rhyne was released by the Lions. It remains to be seen what the future holds for this highly accomplished athlete as he continues to traverse the intricate world of professional football.