So Dew, from Mount Waverley, is trying his hand at US college gridiron.

The 20 year old has spent most of the past year studying and training at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

Dew's coaches at the Cardinals gave him a "red-shirt" season, which meant he could train and study but not play until he had adjusted to the higher level of competition.

College teams regularly red-shirt players who are injured or face a big adjustment to ensure the players play their full four years with their teams.

Dew plays as an offensive tackle, mostly on the right side of the offensive line.

For those who don't understand gridiron, Dew is one of the big men who protect the quarterback so he can throw the ball without getting tackled.

Linemen also block for running backs, and Dew said he felt more comfy creating space for his running back as most Australian teams, including Dew's Monash University Warriors, execute more running plays.

"One of the good things about being a red-shirt is that I spent all year on the practice squad replicating what our opposition was expected to do in the game. So I got to play against the best defensive players in the team every day, which helped me to learn."

Dew also won selection in a world team which faced a team of the best US high school seniors in the International Federation of American Football's International Bowl last week in Austin, Texas, which the world team won 35-29.

The world side featured players from numerous countries, many of whom were either joining college teams or attempting to play at college level. Along with Dew, a player from Angola is also on the Incarnate Word football team.

Dew loved the experience of joining other foreign players who loved the sport.

"If you don't love it in Australia you're not going to love it over here," he said.

Dew said he was enjoying student life greatly at Incarnate Word where he is studying for a communication degree majoring in journalism.

Incarnate Word has a new coach this coming season with former National Football League assistant coach Larry Kennan taking charge.

Kennan was on the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s.

The school will also expect to move into division 1, the top level of college gridiron, in the next few years.

"Coach has been great," Dew said.

"He keeps telling us we will work harder than we ever have but we will also have more fun than we've ever had."