The New England Free Jacks signed Deion Mikesell for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The 22-year-old wing is 6’0″ and 220 lbs. He has a birthday within a week and will be 23.
Deion signed with the Houston SaberCats during the 2019 MLR season. He immediately made an impact playing 630 minutes in 9 matches and scoring 3 tries. He had 7 linebreaks, 6 tackle breaks, kicked 4 times for 137 meters and made 13 tackles.
Deion is from Runnells, Iowa and attended Southeast Park High School. He played football as an outside linebacker, was the 2015 Iowa Wrestling Runner-up in the State Tournament and played rugby sevens in the Iowa High School League.
Following his graduation from high school in 2015, he attended Lindenwood University from 2015 to 2018. He was an All-American and helped the team win the National Sevens and the Collegiate Rugby Championship titles in 2018. He also played rugby sevens for the Chicago Lions and the Ramblin Jesters.
Deion played with the USA Rugby Under-20s in 2016 and 2017 against Canada and for the Collegiate All Americans on tour to Queensland in 2016. He also played for the MCAA for the USA Faclonsin the Rugbytown7s in 2018.
In 2016 he made his debut with the USA Men’s National team against Uruguay on March 5 at Montevideo and is Eagle 490. His second appearance with the team was also in the Americas Rugby Championship against Brazil on February 11, 2017.
Deion signed a four-month contract with the Clermont Academy and following its conclusion joined the Houston SaberCats. He is a talented player and was an impact player right away. Expect more of the same with the New England Free Jacks in 2020.
New England Free Jacks Comments
“The Free Jacks today announced the signing of emerging USA international winger, Deion Mikesell, and back row veteran, Zack Stryfeller, for the team’s inaugural season in Major League Rugby. The pair provide the Free Jacks playing roster with additional Major League Rugby experience. Deion joins from the Houston Sabercats, while Zack travels north from NOLA Gold.”
“We are ecstatic to have Zack and Deion join what is already shaping up to be a well-rounded roster. Both men embody the values of what we believe a Free Jack stands for and we are looking forward to welcoming the pair to the team in the next few days,” commented head coach Josh Smith. “Zack brings a wise head and gold standard work rate to our back row, while Deion adds unrivaled firepower with the ball in hand and a robust defensive game to the back three. Importantly, they are both visually excited to begin making the connections with the team and contribute to the growth of the Free Jacks as we head into the season.”
The pair will join the Free Jacks later this week when the team returns from the first week of pre-season training in the woods of New Hampshire. We are looking forward to welcoming both Deion and Zack to New England.
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