German quarterback Marcelo Dabo also joins the Indianapolis Colts, while Thomas Odukoya of the Netherlands was transferred to the Tennessee Titans.
Ayo Oyelola and Adedayo Odeleye of Great Britain are among four players who have been assigned to NFL teams under the league’s International Player Pathway program.
Oyelola first fell in love with football when he watched highlights from Sakuon Barkley during a law lecture at the University of Nottingham, from which he graduated in 2020.
He spent last season playing for the Gray Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League.
Born in Nigeria, before moving to the UK with his family at the age of nine, linebacker Odeley was first introduced to football by enrolling at Loughborough, where his natural size and physique caught the eye of an American football team captain at the University Athletic Fair.
After missing out on a spot on the NFL team in 2021, Odeley transferred his talents to the Berlin Thunder in the European Football League, earning a spot on the ELF All-Star Team.
defensive rear of Germany Marcel Dabo was assigned to the Indianapolis Colts after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year with ELF’s Stuggart Surge last season.
Dutch tight end Thomas Odukoya meanwhile, joins the Tennessee Titans playing college football at Eastern Michigan University.
Last month also saw the Nigerian duo Chigbo Roy Mbateka and Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi signed with the New York Giants and the Arizona Cardinals, respectively, through The Uprise, launched by two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Axis Umeniora.
The International Player Pathway will enter its sixth year in 2022, opening the way to opportunities in the NFL for players such as Efe Obada (Washington Commanders), Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles), Jacob Johnson (New England Patriots) and Sammis Reyes ( Washington). commanders).
