Europe is emerging as a pipeline for college football players.
At least 11 Europeans recently accepted scholarship offers to play for D1 schools, with more to sign in February. Power Five teams have 2021 recruits hailing from Germany, Sweden, Finland, Serbia and Ireland.
The increase in European college talent comes after the NFL has invested heavily in Europe.
- The league launched multiple grassroots initiatives in Europe, like the NFL Academy in London.
- It hired its first-ever head of Europe and U.K. earlier this month and doubled down on plans to bring a game to Germany, despite not playing an international NFL game this season for the first time in 14 years.
- Launched first dedicated NFL channel internationally with broadcaster Sky in September.
Entering the 2020 season, Canada was the most represented foreign country in the NFL with 12 players, followed by Nigeria with 8 players and Australia with 6.
