Chinese American Taylor Rapp drafted by the Los Angeles Rams

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Safety Taylor Rapp at the NFL combine wher ootball prospects display their skills to NFL scouts.

University of Washington safety Taylor Rapp was selected by the L.A. Rams in the second round of the NFL draft, thus becoming one of the handful of Asian American professional football players.

Projected to be selected early in the second round of the draft by one of the 32 teams, Rapp had to wait until 60 other college football prospects were picked before his name was announced. Having skipped the first round due to trades, Rapp was the Rams first action in the draft.

Concern about a hip flexor injury which appeared to slow his time in the 40-yard dash may have lowered lowered his value to teams.

“Got (the hips) checked out by the Rams’ doctors and physical stuff there, so it’s completely healthy,” Rapp said. “I’m ready to play ball now. I’m ready to get to work.”

The Rams' newest safety will bring with him an acute sense of his privileged position as a highly paid and highly visible sports figure shaped by his experience growing up as a community north of Seattle with few Asian Americans.

“They make fun of how you look ― your eyes, the widened, slanted eyes. There were a few instances where I was called the Ch-word. It was offensive to me. It made me embarrassed of who I was,” he said. “That’s why I never embraced it growing up. I was different than everyone else, and I didn’t want to be.”

Since then, Rapp has grown to be proud of his heritage, displaying several conspicuous Chinese tattoos. And with guidance from fellow players who could relate to Rapp’s struggle, as well as the encouragement of Asians on social media who look up to the player, Rapp is now looking to be a role model for others.

“To me, it’s about gaining a platform that will help inspire a generation of Chinese and Asian American kids,” he told NFL.com. “I don’t want to be just an answer to a trivia question; I want to inspire and have a real impact.”

This year is a banner year for Asian American football players and  breaks down the stereotype that Asian Americans can't excel in football.

The No. 1 pick in the draft is Kyler Murray is part Korean, the Heismann Trophy winnr as the best football player in college football. The 5'10" quarterback was selected by the Arizona Cardinals football team.

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