The NFL will host an International Combine in London for the second year in a row. The event takes place on October 3rd and 4th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Similar to the annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis as part of the draft process, 44 invited players from 13 countries can prove themselves in various competitions in front of the eyes of NFL scouts on the two days behind closed doors. Several players will then be selected to be invited to the International Player Pathway program.
Whoever receives this invitation gets the chance to train in America for three months. Players will then be selected from this group to be assigned to four NFL teams as part of the program for the 2023 season.
How does the NFL Pathway program work?
The NFL Pathway program was created to expand the league’s global reach – and to draw fans from other countries even closer to the league through identification with individual players. The program started in 2017 and aims to give foreign talent a longer-term chance for a roster in the NFL.
The league gives every team in a certain division the opportunity to sign one international player from the program each season. The player receives a special place in the practice squad, so does not fall under the squad restrictions. At the same time, however, he can prove and improve himself in daily training – and also make it into the active squad.
Among others, Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders), Efe Obada (Washington Commanders) and Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles) have made the leap into the NFL.
This year it’s the turn of the AFC South, with Marcel Dabo (Indianapolis Colts) also represented here by a German player.
International Combine: Six German players
Getting hold of such a place is the goal of the 44 players who are auditioning in London at the beginning of October. With offensive lineman Luca Jokiel (Heidelberg Hunters), tight end John Levi Kruse (Hamburg Sea Devils), linebacker Lino Schroeter (Cologne Crocodiles), linebacker Flamur Simon (Cologne Centurions), offensive lineman Marlon Werthmann (Schwäbisch Hall unicorns) and offensive lineman Leander Wiegand (Cologne Centurions) are six German players this time.
Overall it is the fourth edition of the International Combine. The event started in Australia in 2018 and was held in Germany in 2019.
“Holding the International Combine in London for the second year in a row provides a great stage for our amazing game,” said Roman Oben, NFL vice president of football development, in a statement. “The Combine allows us to evaluate new talent worldwide and gives participants the opportunity to compete at the highest level.”