Jesse Williams is one of a handful of Australians that has succeeded in taking the big risk of pursuing an NFL career.

The former Bayside Raven was scouted by American colleges from the age of 16 but would ultimately end up enrolling with NCAA powerhouse the University of Alabama to play under the legendary Nick Saban in 2011 after playing for Western Arizona the previous two seasons.

Williams would play as a regular starter for the Crimson Tide during his final two years in college before he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks as the 137th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

His NFL career could not get off to a better start as the Seahawks would win the Super Bowl in Williams’ first season, although Williams would not play in the game itself.

After once again not being picked to play for Seattle in the Super Bowl the following season, Williams would be waived by the Seahawks in 2015.

In May of the same year, Williams was unfortunately diagnosed with Type 2 Papillary cancer which prevented him from making an NFL comeback.

Williams has remained in the sport as a strength and conditioning coach and has recently revealed to Fox Sports reporter Finn Morton that multiple NRL and Rugby stars have contacted him about potentially transitioning to the gridiron.

“I’ve had DMs from all different types of people’s favourite NRL and rugby union athletes about trying to go over, so I know it’s something of interest,” Williams said.

“I definitely think the capabilities are there.

“Would it be a sharp learning curve? Yes, but I feel like, with the pathways growing and so many of these guys following the NFL, I feel like it’s something that could be realistic in the future.

“It’s a different breed of athlete.

“It’s very tough to compare guys.

“There definitely are a few guys that I’ve seen, like Sonny Bill (Williams) or those cross-code athletes that I feel easily have the skill sets to merge over to the NFL.”

Recently the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Valentine Holmes have made the move from Rugby League to the NFL, with both players ending up back in the NRL.