NFL Academy Develops UK Football Talent

Rafael Varona Blakstad's unexpected encounter with Lamonte Winston, head of the NFL Academy, at Loughborough University has sparked his transition from rugby to American football. The NFL Academy, founded in 2019, is increasingly recruiting U.K. athletes as it seeks to develop local talent, traditionally dominated by German and Swedish players. Winston noted that the British youth are beginning to diversify their sporting interests, although soccer and rugby remain predominant. A notable example is Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who switched to American football and is currently on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. The academy actively uses social media and personal networks to attract young athletes, with Varona Blakstad aiming for a Division I scholarship. His shift in aspirations reflects a broader trend of growing interest in American football among British youth.