Jordan’s Serial: Watch out NFL – the Brits are coming

There has been a lot focus over the past few seasons on the NFL bringing over regular season football to our shores. This has no doubt helped increase the ever growing fanbase, and maximise the loyal fans that have been there right from the early formal introduction of the sport in the 1980’s.

In turn this has helped the younger fans and those entering our universities to play more football. The growth of the sport means that over 70 teams entered the BUAFL (British University American Football League) this past season. This then transfers neatly over to the 50 plus teams that make up the BAFA (British American Football Association) National League.

Unlike the English national pastime of soccer where they welcome and embrace players from overseas to improve their game, it is hard for a foreign player to break into the world of the NFL. This is why the focus over the past week has turned from the teams visiting here every season, to British players attempting to showcase their talent in Americas Game.

None more so than Croydon born Lawrence Okoye.

Last summer Lawrence was part of the successful GB Olympics team which had the nation on the edge of its seat. Now the 6’6″, 300lb 21-year-old discus thrower aims to have the British NFL fans standing and cheering once again. Reaching the final of the discus last summer was the height of his sporting career so far, but sadly he could only finish a disappointing 12th.

Last month, Okoye expressed his intention to try and crack into the NFL, despite never having played in High School or College, which is of course the natural way to learn the game and be scouted by the top NFL brass. There are loopholes in the system however, and if you’re good enough then you still have an outside chance of breaking into the game.

The Super Regional Combine has players with no college eligibility left, some former NFL players and some aspiring NFL players who weren’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Lawrence impressed veteran scouting guru Gil Brandt saying he was “unbelievably active and incredibly explosive” in drills. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.88 and 4.78 seconds, performed the short shuttle in 4.38 seconds, had a 10-foot-5 broad jump and a 35-inch vertical jump. His arms were measured to be 35 inches long.

Trying out as a defensive lineman Okoye had already said that he had interest from five pro teams before the Regional Combine held at Cowboys Stadium, that interest may have doubled given that he was the top listed athlete for his position in the workouts.

Another player has chosen the more orthodox route of trying to crack the NFL nut.

Manchester born Menelik Watson played basketball at Marist College from 2009 to 2010. He transferred to Saddleback College where he played American football for the first time playing at right tackle. After one year at Saddleback he transferred to Florida State University, where he started 12 of 13 games in the 2012 season, allowing just one sack. He has entered the 2013 NFL Draft after his junior season.

There is a possibility that Menelik could be drafted in the first round, indeed the Green Bay Packers have been casting their eyes over his talents. Most say that he is a certain top 100 pick. Not bad for the boy who grew up seeing sport as the only way out of the poverty and street culture that seemed to be beckoning him, as it does many others. He was into track first, then played soccer, before turning his hand to basketball. In 2007 he joined Orellana in Spain, a travelling basketball team. After two years and a tour of the United States, Watson earned a basketball scholarship from Marist.

There have been many British born players in the NFL over its history of course, the most famous of names helped launch the game over here. Mick Luckhurst and John Smith both presented coverage on Sunday nights early evening offering on Channel Four, both placekickers have been joined on the list by active player Lawrence Tynes also a kicker, and Osi Umenyiora the no nonsense defensive end. If Okoye and Watson can be remembered many years from now as these players then they would have succeeded in their ambitions and dreams.

Read more from Gary over on his Dallas Cowboys blog The House That Jerry Built.