NFL Academy’s global pipeline scores big as 12 international athletes earn college scholarships

The NFL‘s international development efforts scored a major touchdown as twelve athletes from the NFL Academy programs in the UK and Australia officially signed with U.S. colleges for the 2026-27 academic year, showcasing the growing global talent in American football.

A pathway to division I

Highlighting the elite talent being cultivated overseas, six athletes earned coveted spots on NCAA Division I rosters. The group is headlined by a strong Central European contingent. Offensive lineman Bruno Werner, who grew up in Chemnitz, Germany, will join the Boston College Eagles of the Atlantic Coast Conference. He is joined by fellow German outside linebacker Moritz Strempel (Cologne), who signed with the UMass Minutemen of the Mid-American Conference. Austrian-born tight end Luca Wolf chose the prestigious University of Tennessee and the Southeastern Conference. They are joined by Great Britain’s Jonas Kanyanga (DL – NAU Lumberjacks) and Luke Francis (DL – Florida State Seminoles), as well as New Zealand’s Nikau Hepi (OL – Florida State Seminoles), the first graduate from the NFL Academy program in Australia.

Deepening the talent pool

The success story extends beyond the Division I level, with six more athletes earning their way onto NCAA Division II programs. This group exemplifies the diverse, multinational background of the academy. Benson Jerry (Nigeria) will join the Northern State Wolves, while a trio of wide receivers—Thayrancel Pinas (Netherlands/Suriname), Seb Harris (UK/Jamaica), and Rafael Varona-Blakstad (UK/Cuba)—are all set to play for the University of Mary Marauders. They are joined by Matthew Okunade (UK/Zimbabwe) with the Augustana University Vikings and Meshach Arthur (UK/Italy/Ghana) with the Minot State Beavers.

Changing lives through football

The signings were met with pride from the NFL‘s leadership. Patrick Long, Director of International Football Development at the NFL:

 “We are incredibly proud of all of our NFL Academy athletes… Their achievements are a testament to their dedication and efforts on and off the football field… We hope that their successes inspire other young athletes around the world to believe that they too can change their lives through football and excellent education.”

Building a global legacy

This announcement solidifies the NFL Academy as a premier global development program. With this class, the total number of academy graduates playing NCAA college football will rise to over 50, with more than 30 of them at the Division I level. The success comes at the end of a landmark year for the program, which expanded its competitive reach by playing games against top U.S. high schools and national teams from Mexico and Spain. For these twelve young men from fourteen different national backgrounds, a dream of playing American football at a high level is now a reality.