As the NFL continues to gain in popularity across the globe, more players are being developed outside the United States. This year, six international players were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, including four in the first two rounds. Defensive end EZEKIEL ANSAH and linebacker BJOERN WERNER were both selected in the first round. Ansah, who hails from Ghana, was chosen with the fifth overall pick by the Detroit Lions. Werner, a native of Germany, was drafted by the Colts with the No. 24 overall selection.
Ansah was a walk-on at BYU and played football for the first time when he suited up for the Cougars in 2010. After two seasons as a reserve, Ansah earned a starting job early in the 2012 season, finishing with 4.5 sacks and 13 tackles-for-loss.
"I've given a lot for this game," says Ansah. "It hasn't been an easy road. It's competitive and it's a challenge to me. It just drives me. I want to be able to say at the end of my career I was able to achieve all that. I want to just stay focused and get better every single day."
Linebacker Bjoern Werner, who starred in college at Florida State, played football for the first time at age 15. In 2012, he was a unanimous All-America selection and earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
"I knew every NFL star and learned every team and every player in the game," says Werner, who learned about the NFL by playing the Madden video game. "Playing in the NFL was my ultimate dream when I came from Germany. This is just so amazing and so unbelievable."
In the second round, tackle MENELIK WATSON went to the Oakland Raiders (No. 42 overall) and defensive end MARGUS HUNT was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 53 overall). Hunt, who was born in Estonia, barely knew how to play football before attending Southern Methodist.
"I had to learn everything about football from scratch and pick it up fast," says Hunt. "I've really grown to love this game. I'm really grateful and blessed to be in the position I'm in."
A look at the six international players who were selected in the 2013 NFL Draft:
Player, Team | Country | High School | College | Round, Selection |
---|---|---|---|---|
Source: NFL | ||||
DE Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit | Ghana | Presbyterian Boys (Accra, Ghana) | Brigham Young | Round 1, 5th overall |
LB Bjoern Werner, Indianapolis | Germany | Salisbury (Salisbury, Connecticut) | Florida State | Round 1, 24th overall |
T Menelik Watson, Oakland | England | Burnage (Manchester, England) | Florida State | Round 2, 42nd overall |
DE Margus Hunt, Cincinnati | Estonia | Karksi-Nuia (Karksi-Nuia, Estonia) | Southern Methodist | Round 2, 53rd overall |
LB Trevardo Williams, Houston | Jamaica | Bridgeport Central (Bridgeport, Connecticut) | Connecticut | Round 4, 124th overall |
DT Jesse Williams, Seattle | Australia | Cavendish Road (Brisbane, Australia) | Alabama | Round 5, 137th overall |
Foreign-born players currently in the NFL:
Country | Player(s) |
---|---|
Source: NFL | |
AMERICAN SAMOA | G Mike Iupati, SF; LB Rey Maualuga, Cin; DT Domata Peko, Cin; DE Ropati Pitoitua, Ten; DT Isaac Sopoaga, Phi; DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, TB |
ANGOLA | DE Christo Bilukidi, Oak |
AUSTRALIA | QB Mike Herman, SD; P Sav Rocca, Was; DT Jesse Williams, Sea; P Brad Wing, Phi |
BARBADOS | T Ramon Harewood, Bal |
CAMEROON | LB Moise Fokou, Ten |
CANADA | C Philip Blake, Den; WR Nate Burleson, Det; DE Tyrone Crawford, Dal; LB Cory Greenwood, Det; T Tyler Holmes, Min; LS Jorgen Hus, StL; C L.P. Ladouceur, Dal; G Austin Pasztor, Jac; P Jon Ryan, Sea; K Shaun Suisham, Pit; G Danny Watkins, Phi; TE Luke Willson, Sea |
CZECH REPUBLIC | T Will Svitek, NE |
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO | LB Andy Mulumba, GB |
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | LB Frank Beltre, SD |
ENGLAND | DE Jack Crawford, Oak; DB Abdul Kanneh, Cle; DE Lawrence Okoye, SF; LB Tim Shaw, Ten; DE Osi Umenyiora, Atl; T Menelik Watson, Oak |
ESTONIA | DE Margus Hunt, Cin; T Michael Roos, Ten |
GERMANY | CB Brandon Burton, Min; FB Jerome Felton, Min; WR Brandon Gibson, Mia; TE Ladarius Green, SD; WR Domenik Hixon, Car; CB Mike Jenkins, Oak; DT Markus Kuhn, NYG; P Jeff Locke, Min; C Doug Legursky, Buf; DE Kyle Moore, Chi; DT D'Anthony Smith, Jac; T Sebastian Vollmer, NE; LB Bjoern Werner, Ind |
GHANA | DE Ezekiel Ansah, Det |
HAITI | T Gosder Cherilus, Ind; T Vlad Ducasse, NYJ; DE Junior Galette, NO |
ITALY | K Giorgio Tavecchio, GB; T Will Yeatman, Mia |
JAMAICA | S Patrick Chung, Phi; T Oniel Cousins, Cle; T Orlando Franklin, Den; DE Vaughn Martin, Mia; T Randy Richards, SD; LB Trevardo Williams, Hou |
JAPAN | QB Robert Griffin III, Was |
LIBERIA | LB Tamba Hali, KC; DE Jonathan Massaquoi, Atl; LB Sio Moore; Oak |
MEXICO | K Eddy Carmona, Oak; K Jose Carlos Maltos, NO |
NEW ZEALAND | DT Stephen Paea, Chi; T Nic Purcell, Phi |
PANAMA | WR Roberto Wallace, Ten |
PHILLIPINES | QB Tim Tebow, NE |
POLAND | K Sebastian Janikowski, Oak |
PUERTO RICO | RB Miguel Maysonet, Cle |
ROMANIA | P Zoltan Mesko, NE |
SCOTLAND | K Graham Gano, Car; K Lawrence Tynes, TB |
SOUTH KOREA | DL Kyle Love, Jac |
TONGA | DT Star Lotulelei, Car |
VIRGIN ISLANDS | DT Linval Joseph, NYG |
ZIMBABWE | DE Stansly Maponga, Atl |
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2013 NFL Draft Goes International