Tag: International Pathway Program

Chargers DL CJ Okoye on first sack: ‘It was an amazing moment for me’

It was a moment CJ Okoye will never forget.

Chargers defensive lineman CJ Okoye recorded a sack in last Saturday’s win over the Rams in the preseason opener. While this would be a tally in the stat sheet for any other player, this was a special moment for Okoye.

It marked Okoye’s first-ever organized football game. Not just an NFL game but the first organized football game. Okoye is a Nigerian athlete signed by the team as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

“It was an amazing moment for me,” Okoye said Tuesday.

Okoye sacked Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett on the Chargers’ final defensive play. Afterward, his teammates went wild on the sideline.

“Watching it is like putting all this together in one, it was a moment for me,” Okoye said. “It was [an] amazing moment seeing my teammates, see my D-line room go crazy like that. I wish to go back there again.”

Notable players from the International Pathway Program include Raiders’ Jakob Johnson, Commanders’ Efe Obada and Eagles’ Jordan Mailata.

Even though he made a highlight play in preseason action, Okoye knows that nothing is guaranteed, and he will have to keep his head down and keep working hard.

“I don’t think I’m a celebrity yet, it’s just my story,” Okoye said. “I have never played football, just magically got a sack. I won’t lie, it’s an awesome feeling but you don’t go too high, you don’t go too low just stay in the middle and do your thing.

“For me, it’s just learning the most I can do, go out there and learn because we have the best D-line in the entire league. I want to learn more plays and learn more techniques.”

Regardless if Okoye makes even the practice squad or not, this was a moment that he will never forget.

Raiders add DL David Ebuka Agoha as part of NFL International Pathway Program

Nigerian EDGE David Ebuka Agoha joins Raiders

Today several NFL clubs participated in the NFL International Pathway program. The Raiders were among them, bringing in African defensive lineman David Ebuka for their offseason program.

Ebuka is a 6-5, 245-pound defensive end.

Africa has long produced many NFL players. Currently there are more than 125 different players from 15 different African countries playing in the NFL.

Ebuka is one of eight players to join NFL clubs this offseason as part of the program. Six of whom hail from Nigeria, including Ebuka.

The six Nigerian players were discovered via Osi Umenyiora’s The Uprise initiative and attended the inaugural NFL Africa talent camp in Ghana last year. They were then invited to the International Combine in London and secured their place on the IPP program.

The Raiders know the value in IPP players. They already have one on the roster in fullback Jakob Johnson (Germany). He is one of 37 current NFL players to come to the league through the IPP program.

All IPP players will remain with their clubs until the end of training camp, at which point they are eligible to be signed to the roster or be added as an extra practice squad player. Giving them a great opportunity to make an impression and find a place in the league.

Vikings add DL Junior Aho via International Pathway Program

The Minnesota Vikings added a defensive lineman in Junior Aho from SMU to their roster via the International Pathway Program.

After the 2023 NFL draft, teams have a mostly finalized roster. There will be a few sporadic free-agent signings throughout the offseason and one way teams can add to their roster is through the International Pathway Program.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings have added one of those players in defensive lineman Junior Aho from France.

After playing in his native France, Aho played for SMU this past season. In 2022, he played in all 13 games and recorded 23 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. He played 25 games over three seasons for the Mustangs, totaling 43 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

The NFL launched the program in 2017 and it allocates eight players a season to clubs across two divisions to help broaden the game worldwide.

NFL announces new rules for elevating international players to rosters

NFL announces new rules for elevating international players to roster:

In an effort to continue to expand the game of football across the globe, the NFL announced a new rule change on Thursday involving players who are in the league via the International Pathway Program.

Previously IPP players were given a roster exemption to remain on the team’s practice squad throughout the season. The new rules now allow teams to sign or elevate such players to their active roster.

The change gives international players an added route to earn playing time in a NFL game:

Also included in the new rule are a few curve balls.

The NFL currently has 14 IPP players and they are now allowed to terminate their IPP contract and sign a practice player contract.

This new deal requires said players to remain on the practice squad for at least three games, but after that, they can be brought up.

However, if a team lifts the original IPP exemption, they cannot put the player back on it.

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NFL to allow international players to rep home country during preseason

NFL to allow international players to rep home country during preseason:

The NFL will allow international players in the league to represent their home countries, if they so choose, during the preseason.

A memo sent out by the NFL said such players who came to the league via their International Pathway Program, can put their home country flag alongside the United States flag on their helmet during the preseason.

The league has limited the initiative to only the exhibition season at this time, though.

Here’s a list of players that are included in this bunch via the NFL’s memo:

The NFL also recently announced that every team in the league will begin an eight-year rotation starting in 2022 which will include international games. In that time frame under that new policy, every team in the league will play in an international setting once every eight seasons.

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