Portland State University senior defensive back Tre Kramer-Taylor has followed a unique path in his athletic career, moving from the Marshall Islands to Guam, Hawaii, and eventually to Oregon. His story was highlighted in a May 19 announcement by the university.
Kramer-Taylor’s journey matters because it shows how athletes from remote areas can reach Division I college sports despite challenges with exposure and resources. His experience also highlights cultural transitions faced by students who move far from home for their education and athletic goals.
Kramer-Taylor comes from a family with a strong sports background. Both parents played high school sports; his mother competed internationally for the Marshall Islands in volleyball and basketball, while his father played basketball and participated in bodyboarding tournaments in Hawaii. Other relatives have held leadership roles in sports organizations or competed at high levels.
After starting out playing soccer and basketball as a child, Kramer-Taylor first tried football on Guam following encouragement from coaches who noticed his athleticism. “I decided the day I watched the LSU championship game I wanted to play D-1 football. I saw the energy, the passion. Not only from the players and coaches…but also from the fans…my Dad!” he said.
His pursuit of college football led him to St. Louis High School in Honolulu for better training opportunities and visibility among scouts—something he said was not possible on Guam or Majuro due to limited coaching resources: “The game wasn’t evolving and it was stuck in the past… There was no one I could turn to in terms of football trainers.” After high school, which ended early due to COVID-19 disruptions, he attended community college before receiving walk-on offers at Morehead College (Kentucky) and Portland State University (PSU).
Kramer-Taylor chose PSU partly because Oregon has one of the largest Marshallese populations in the United States: “Being this far away from home…I knew having them around would make it easier for me to adapt,” he said.
His time at PSU included setbacks such as an ACL injury that delayed both his football career and an opportunity to compete internationally for track with hopes of reaching the Olympics. Despite these obstacles, Kramer-Taylor recovered: “Emotionally, I was invested in my dreams and did everything I could to beat the odds just like I have been doing my entire life.” He returned to play after being cleared by doctors in July 2025.
Special Teams Coordinator Coach Jared Gallatin commented on Kramer-Taylor’s contributions: “We expect Tre to continue to do what he has done through the offseason…continue to work hard at earning a role on the field… Tre brings a vocal presence to our defensive backfield. He’s a great communicator.” Gallatin added about team culture: “It has been a lot of fun getting to know Tre and his story coming from the Marshall Islands… You take guys like Tre, people from all different walks of life, and they become teammates who form really special bonds that last a lifetime.”
Academically strong as well as athletically determined, Kramer-Taylor earned All-Big Sky academic honors for 2025 at PSU while pursuing degrees related to business management and real estate property development.
Looking ahead beyond graduation this spring—and possibly toward Olympic competition representing RMI—Kramer-Taylor said: “Start getting to know me now because even after my chapter with football closes, my athletic career is far from over… Stay tuned for maybe the 2028 LA Olympics.”
