If she had to, Briana O'Sullivan would tackle you without hesitation. Don't worry, though; she only targets other athletes.

The 21-year-old journalism major is a member of the women’s rugby club at the University of Florida. She never played a contact sport before she came to UF, but she started playing rugby on a whim because she saw the club members in Turlington Plaza.

O'Sullivan said her favorite thing about rugby is "the people. I really like the people."

She also enjoys the adrenaline rush she gets from making a good play. She is particularly proud of one game in which she chased after and caught a girl with a large head start.

"I just threw myself at her and tackled her out of bounds," she said. "It was so awesome, and I could hear the people on the sidelines cheering."

She credits rugby with giving her an emotional outlet and more confidence.

"I'm more willing to try things," she said. "If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't work out, and I'm okay with that."

Despite her physical endurance, O'Sullivan claims she's not tough, since things like lizards, roaches and horror movies scare her.

"I'm actually kind of a loser,” she said. “... Don't be fooled."

Somehow, I think most would disagree.

- Katie Privett