Six NFL Academy athletes from five countries have become the latest students to graduate from the program and sign to U.S. colleges for the 2025-26 academic year.
Arthur de Boachie (Netherlands), Andy Quinn (Ireland), Kevin Bentin (Germany) and Akram Elnagmi (England) will all join NCAA Division I programs while Issac Ubaka (England) and Thompson Umukoro (Nigeria) will join NCAA Division II and Division III programs respectively.
Arthur de Boachie becomes the second graduate to join Boise State in as many years, linking up with defensive lineman Lopez Sanusi. Andy Quinn was crowned ‘Ireland’s Kicking King’ in front of 43,000 people in 2022 at the country’s annual college football game, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Quinn will team up with fellow alumni Pape Abdoulaye Sy at Boston College.
Exciting prospect Kevin Bentin made his commitment official ahead of the NFL Academy vs De La Salle Spartans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October and will head to Long Island University. Englishman Akram Elnagmi also signs to a Division I university with the former rugby and basketball player receiving four offers before selecting the University of Pittsburgh.
“We couldn’t be prouder of these young men as they begin the next chapter in their American football journey. Today’s news is a testament, not only to their football ability, but their dedication and hard work in the classroom. All six are exemplary role models for young athletes across the world seeking to pursue their dream of playing in the NFL and optimizing what can be achieved at the NFL Academy.”
Lamonte Winston, head of the NFL Academy program in the UK
Londoner Isaac Ubaka made the switch from rugby to join the NFL Academy program, which is based Loughborough in the UK, and will head to Division II Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina. Thompson Umukoro, who set a new NFL Academy bench press record at 180kg earlier in 2024 and was scouted via the NFL Africa program, will reunite with former NFL Academy coach Randy Starks at Eureka College in Division III.
The announcement demonstrates the continued success of the NFL Academy program which welcomed 68 players from 19 different countries and territories to its 2024-25 roster in the UK. There are 19 NFL Academy alumni currently playing NCAA Division I college football, with 23 preparing to take to the field for NCAA colleges in the 2025-26 academic year.
Follow the NFL Academy @nflacademy across X, Instagram, and TikTok to keep up with the latest news and announcements. While applications for the 2024-25 school year are now closed, young athletes can register their interest in applying for subsequent years here.
About the NFL Academy:
The NFL Academy program offers talented student athletes a pathway to combine their full-time education with intensive training in American football, under the guidance of a professional coaching team. The program was first launched in the UK in 2019 with a second facility opening in Australia in September 2024.
In the UK, the NFL Academy is based at Loughborough’s world-renowned center of sporting excellence and in partnership with Loughborough College and Loughborough University. The program primarily supports athletes from Europe and Africa aged 16-19.
The NFL Academy in Australia, located on the Gold Coast, was opened in partnership with A.B. Paterson College and supported by the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland State Government and supports athletes from the APAC region aged 12-18.
NFL Academy alumni currently playing Division I College football:
- Darren Agu, United Kingdom (TE) – Vanderbilt University
- Dimitri Madden, United Kingdom (DL) – University of Akron
- Seydou Traore, United Kingdom (WR) – Mississippi State University
- Freddie Pelling, United Kingdom (OL) – Campbell University
- Samuel Isiguzo, United Kingdom (DB) – Bryant University
- Tunde Mkparu, United Kingdom (DB) – Bryant University
- Ott Eric Ottender, Estonia (WR) – University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Kofi Taylor-Barrocks, United Kingdom (LB) – University of Texas at El Paso
- Peter Clarke, United Kingdom (TE) – Temple University
- Emmanuel Okoye, Nigeria (TE) – University of Tennessee
- Dominic Braesch, Germany (OL) – University of North Alabama
- Daniel Akinkunmi, United Kingdom (OL) – University of Oklahoma
- Luke Yau-Gayle, United Kingdom (DL) – University at Buffalo
- Timi Oke, United Kingdom (DB) – Northwestern University
- Lopez Sanusi, Ireland (DL) – Boise State University
- Pape Abdoulaye Sy, Senegal (OL) – Boston College
- Benjamin Kienz, Germany (OL) – Kennesaw State University
- Yahya Attia, Austria (OL) – University of Colorado Boulder
- Clinton Azubuike, Nigeria (DL) – Northern Arizona University