Olympic stadium to Lambeau field

Earlier this year I wrote about two young men entering next weeks NFL draft. These two young men where different to all the other future professional American football players because they were from the United Kingdom. Other the course of the last month a third candidate has un expectedly entered the running to be drafted next week. This is former Great Britain Olympian Lawerence Okoye who competed in the discuss at London 2012. Today I'm not going to discuss the importance of UK representatives in the NFL like I have previously but rather Lawerence's rather peculiar journey.

In just other a weeks time Lawerence Okoye could be drafted by one of the 32 NFL franchises but how has he gone from London's Olympic Stadium to Lambeau field or Foxborough in less than a year. Okoye has decided to take a break from athletics in order to pursue a career in American football. For many of the prospects selected in next weeks draft the journey to the NFL began years and years ago from playing high school football to college football to sports performance centres. Players have taken hundreds of game snaps and probably thousands of practise snaps. Lawerence's journey began literally months ago as he prepared for a regional trial in Atlanta and still yet to take any snap.

Although he is yet to play a game of American football or even be placed on a teams roster he has sent shock waves through the NFL community. He impressed so much at that trial in Atlanta that he was invited to the regional combine in Dallas. Traditionally about a quarter of the people who attend the regional combine end up either being drafted or acquired as a free agent by NFL teams. Straight away he had all 32 teams who were in attendance turning their heads. He measured in at 6-6 and over 300lbs, he then went on to run a blistering 40 yard dash time. To those who know Lawerence this did not come as a surprise they already know his explosiveness and athleticism. He further displayed this athleticism in practise drills where he participated in the defensive line drills.

Following the workouts he had NFL scouts queuing up to speak to him. Since the combine he has been rumoured to have already had formal workouts and meetings with teams including San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints. This is just the first steps in Lawerence's quest to be an American football player he understands that he may not see the field of play for a long time and could initially end up on a teams practise squad. Okoye is going to need time to develop and understand the game and his position, developing the experience his peers have acquired other years of playing football. The strides he has made so far have been at a remarkable pace and these strides will probably be at the same pace. He is an intelligent young man turning down an Oxford University degree so learning an NFL play book should be no problem.

I personally am so excited for next weeks NFL draft we have 3 UK prospects hoping to be drafted or picked up by an NFL franchise via free agency. While Lawerence may be the biggest risk of all three prospects and perhaps all the prospects entering the draft as he has never played a game of football he could have the most potential. His athletic ability and measurables are already there for everyone to see, he has the passion and cognitive ability to succeed. I predict he will be drafted in one of the later rounds as teams are already intrigued with him. I hope which ever team he ends up on they are patient with him allowing him to learn and develop.

Good luck Lawerence from all football fans in the UK, it will be amazing to have one of our own playing at Wembley.