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Colorado turns to Finnish judo champion Chris Mulumba in rebuilding effort

There was a new player on Diablo Valley College's practice field in the summer of 2015, but safety Kyle Trego didn't recognize him.

"This guy was 260-plus with a six-pack," he said. "He didn't speak much English, and I honestly didn't know what position he played."

The physical specimen was Chris Mulumba, a former wrestler and three-time Finnish national judo champion.

Mulumba's football skills were still raw. But after seasons with the Helsinki Roosters -- a founding member of the American Football Association of Finland -- and Chabot College, he was beginning to translate the strength and hand skills developed in judo to defensive line play.