ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Gerhard de Beer arrived at the University of Arizona on July 30, 2013 as a 6-foot-7, 240-pound South African discus thrower intent on becoming a football player.
He walked off the Buffalo Bills' practice field on June 14, 2018 as a 320-pound offensive tackle having completed his first NFL minicamp more than 8,000 miles from his hometown of Pretoria.
De Beer, who turns 24 on Thursday, is attempting to join former Pro Bowl kicker Gary Anderson and former wide receiver Jerome Pathon as part of a small group of South African natives to play a sport unfamiliar to most in their home country.