Die meisten eingeladenen Spieler aus einer Liga kamen aus der European League Of Football (9), darunter auch die beiden Österreicher Lucky Ogbevoen (LB, Raiders Tirol) und Offensive Lineman Tobias Rodlauer von den Berlin Thunder. Keiner der neun Spieler schaffte es in die nächste Runde.

Zwei Österreicher beim NFL International Combine

ELF out, einziger Europäer kommt aus der GFL

Das ist durchaus auch als herber Rückschlag für die ELF zu sehen, die sich selbst auch als Sprungbrett für Spieler in die NFL begreift. Das hat 2022 zumindest gar nicht geklappt. Der einzige Europäer im Bunde ist der Deutsche Marlon Werthmann. Der kommt allerdings von den Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, dem amtierenden Meister der German Football League.

Einen großen Schritt Richtung NFL machen auch gleich sechs Spieler von Ex-Giants Spieler Osi Umenyioras Uprise College in Nigeria.

Die 2023 Klasse des International Player Pathway Programs:
Spieler Land Position
Talitiga Lachlan Amosa Australien DL
Patrick Murtagh Australien TE
Marlon Werthmann Deutschland OL
Hector Zepeda Mexiko OL
Etuale Junior Vinny Lui Neuseeland DL
Basil Chijioke Okoye Nigeria DL/OL
Chukwuebuka Jason Godrick Nigeria OL
Kenneth Odumegwu Nigeria DL
David Ebuka Agoha Nigeria DL
Kehinde Hassan Oginni Nigeria DL
Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi Nigeria OL/DL


Die 44 Spieler die zum Combine eingeladen waren:

Name Position Land Team
Talitiga Amosa DL Australien Berlin Rebels
Brendan Oswin OL Australia Potsdam Royals
Lucky Ogbevoen LB Österreich Raiders Tirol
Tobias Rodlauer OL Österreich Berlin Thunder
Kevin Fortes DB Frankreich Hamburg Sea Devils
Kancel Ludovic OL Frankreich  –
Abel Amand Daufour LB Frankreich Cougars de Saint-Ouen
Stanley Zeregbe LB Frankreich Berlin Thunder
Luca Jokiel OL Deutschland Heidelberg Hunters
John Levi Kruse TE/FB Deutschland Hamburg Sea Devils
Lino Schroeter LB Deutschland Cologne Crocodiles
Simon Flamur LB/DE Deutschland Cologne Centurions
Marlon Werthmann OL Deutschland Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns
Leander Wiegand OL Deutschland Cologne Centurions
Riki Matsui WR Japan Fujitsu Frontiers
Ernesto Rodriguez LB/DE Mexiko  –
Hector Zepeda OL Mexiko Tec De Monterrey
Harlan Kwofie DB Niederlande Rhein Fire
Tyrese Owusu-Bediako DL Niederlande Rhein Fire
Te Akau Gary Pumipi OL Neuseeland 7T5 Sports Academy
Jaylen Chan-Tung OL Neuseeland  –
Jack Siaki Akiono TE Neuseeland 7T5 Sports Academy
Etuale Junior Vinny Lui OL/DL Neuseeland  –
Ifeanyi Nwoye LB Nigeria Uprise Academy
Basil Chijioke Okoye OL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Chibuike Omemgboji OL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Ebuka David Agoha LB/DE Nigeria Uprise Academy
Ebuka Nzekwe DB Nigeria Uprise Academy
Jason Godrick OL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Amos Laoye OL Nigeria New Yorker Lions
Kenneth Odumegwu DL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Johnbosco Ezeani DL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Desmond Osuji DL Nigeria Uprise Academy
Ifeanyi Paul Anine DB Nigeria Uprise Academy
Uzuegbu Precious WR Nigeria Uprise Academy
Jaime Jiron Bowles DE/TE Panama Linces UVM
Alejandro Nieto LB/DE Spanien Barcelona Dragons
Gabriel Rodriguez OL Spanien Barcelona Dragons
Tim Haenni DL Switzerland Hamburg Sea Devils
Emmanuel Falola LB UK Bristol Aztecs
Jai Jackson LB/DE UK London Blitz
Tyrese Johnson-Fisher RB UK London Warriors
Arthur Mbahin LB/DE UK Tamworth Phoenix
Andy Owusu RB UK London Warriors

National Football League Announces Athletes Selected for the ‚2023 International Player Pathway‘ Program

NEW YORK NY Nov. 29, 2022 – The National Football League (NFL) has today announced the names of the 11 athletes, from five countries, selected for the ‚International Player Pathway‘ (IPP) program for 2023.

Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster.

Since its inception 26 international players have been allocated to NFL rosters.  There are currently 16 IPP athletes on NFL rosters, with three of these on their team’s active roster. Jordan Mailata (Australia) – Philadelphia Eagles, Efe Obada (UK) – Washington Commanders and Jakob Johnson (Germany) – Las Vegas Raiders.

This year saw the NFL host an International Combine in England on October 4 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with 38 players from 13 countries participating.

Players will begin training in the United States in January for 10 weeks and will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to NFL club scouts throughout March. The goal is for athletes to be selected for allocation to an NFL practice squad or sign as a free agent for next season through the IPP program following the 2023 NFL Draft.

Chosen at random, a minimum of one of the NFL’s eight divisions will receive the international players selected for the 2023 program should they not be signed to free agent contracts. At the conclusion of training camp, each player will be eligible for an international player practice squad exemption with his assigned team. This grants the assigned team an extra practice squad member. Under certain parameters, players can also be elevated to the active roster during the regular season.

„The International Player Pathway program is an important part of our continued focus on growing the game globally and creating a pathway for international athletes to play in the NFL,“ said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International, NFL.

„We are delighted to see the impact this program is having on football development outside of the USA and are excited to see these talented athletes from across the world competing for a future spot on an NFL roster.“

This news comes on the heels of German International Player Pathway Alumni, David Bada, having his International designation removed by the Washington Commanders and being elevated to the club’s official Practice Squad.Notable International Player Pathway program participants currently on NFL rosters:

Jakob Johnson, Fullback (Germany), Las Vegas Raiders

Johnson was signed to the Patriots‘ active roster on September 21, 2019. He appeared in four regular season games in 2019 with three starts and made his first career reception for five yards in Week 5. He remained with the Patriots for the 2020 season and played all 16 games with 11 starts at fullback and scored his first career touchdown in Week 2. The touchdown catch was the first regular-season touchdown scored by an International Pathway program participant.  Johnson was re-signed by the Patriots for the 2021 season and played in all 17 games with six starts.  He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders prior to the 2022 season and has been a key contributor to their running game through his first season with the team.

Jordan Mailata, Tackle (Australia), Philadelphia Eagles

The Samoan-born Australian former professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming the youngest player on the Eagles‘ roster. After spending the 2018 and 2019 seasons on injured reserve and practice squad, Mailata had a breakout 2020 campaign with starts at both left and right tackle. Following the 2020 season, Mailata was named a starting left tackle and signed a four-year contract extension to remain with the Eagles. In 2021, Mailata started all 14 games he played in and eclipsed 1,000 career snaps. Mailata was the recipient of the NFL’s Way to Play Award in Week 1.

Efe Obada, Defensive End (UK), Washington Commanders

In 2018, Obada become the first player from the NFL International Pathway program to make a 53-man roster and play in his first regular-season game, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his one-sack, one-interception performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. Obada joined the Bills as a free agent for the 2021 season. In 2021, Obada played in 10 games with one start, recording 12 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and one pass defensed. Obada signed with the Washington Commanders prior to the 2022 season and has recorded three sacks on the season to date.

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