Three Brits sign for NFL Teams NEWS
In an exciting weekend for UK American Football fans three British born athletes, Menelik Watson, Lawrence Okoye and Tom Wort were signed by NFL teams, either through the annual college draft or as free-agents.
Watson, originally from Manchester, was drafted in the second round by the Oakland Raiders who will hope he is able to start straight away on their offensive line. Despite only playing one year at a major college Watson is an outstanding athlete who has tried his hand at basketball and boxing previously.
Although his technique is considered a little raw, scouts believe that Watson should respond well to NFL coaching and with his combination of size, strength, speed and athleticism that he will be a success in his chosen sport. He may be helped by the fact that Oakland already have a Brit on their roster, defensive end Jack Crawford, who was drafted last year
Like Crawford, who played at Penn State University, Watson entered the NFL through the recognised route of playing at a US college, in his case Florida State, and being picked in the annual college draft. Lawrence Okoye's route to the San Francisco 49'ers has been a little more unorthodox.
Okoye is better known as Britain's London 2012 Olympic discus finalist. After finishing twelfth, Okoye, another amazing physical specimen, decided he would try his hand at American football.
Having never played the sport he still wowed scouts at an NFL Regional Combine where his size, speed and power amazed those that saw him. The 49'ers, last season's losing Superbowl participants showed an interest and invited Okoye to regular coaching sessions where they continued to evaluate him.
Although Okoye wasn't drafted, San Francisco immediately snapped him up on a free-agent contract, in the hope that they can coach him well enough that his freakish physical attributes can be translated into game effectiveness. It's a long-shot that Okoye, who has only ever worn NFL pads once, will make the 49'ers regular season roster of 53 players in August, but he has a much better chance of grabbing a place on the eight man practice-squad where he can continue to pick up the nuances of the game.
There's no doubt that coaches at San Francisco love Okoye's potential and it may help him that Watson and Crawford are just across the Bay in Oakland and will be available for advice.
Another Brit who missed out on being drafted was Tom Wort, born in Crawley, who was signed as a free-agent by the Tennessee Titans. Wort, who has lived in the US for a number of years and attended Oklahoma University, where he starred as a linebacker on their team, had hoped to be drafted but a relatively disappointing final season for the Sooners saw his stock fall.
Wort will be hoping that he too can make an impact and snatch a spot on the full roster or practice squad. Unlike Watson and Okoye Wort does not have outstanding physical attributes but he renowned for his instincts and desire, plus points for a player in his position.
With as many as four British players potentially donning NFL uniforms the sport in this country seems set to grow and grow. Wembley is already home to two annual regular season NFL games and interest in the game, which has re-blossomed in recent years, could develop to the point when the NFL seriously considers whether a London based franchise is viable. That would be great news for all British NFL fans.
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