When Shaw University’s football team takes the field this season, not only will they be fighting for another CIAA conference championship, but they’ll be making history in the process.

India Pulphus, a soccer and track athlete from Cleveland, Ohio, has made the Bears team as a placekicker. When she takes the field this season, she likely will be the first female kicker in modern HBCU football history.

Pulphus’ history with football goes back to her high school days.

“I played soccer, and my friend and I were joking around one day and said, ‘We should kick for the football team,’” she explained. “I kicked my senior year of high school, but I came to Shaw to play soccer and run track.”

One of Pulphus’ kicking videos made its way to the Shaw football team, and before long, the players were asking her to try out.