The National Football League is the pinnacle of American football and a massive industry in the United States. The league is deeply multicultural, with players representing many countries worldwide. Much like the NBA, NFL players come to attend university in the US and end up becoming major star athletes in the process.
There are many African players who move to the US to study and end up being very successful in the league. With the upcoming 2020 football season just around the corner, here are some incredible African players to keep an eye on this year.
Alvin Kamara
At only 24 years old, Alvin Kamara has already had a stunning and decorated career in the NFL. Born to a Liberian mother, Kamara played college football in Tennessee, before being drafted in the 3rd round by the New Orleans Saints where he currently plays as their running back. He absolutely set the league on fire in his first year, when he was awarded NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. He is also a three-time Pro Bowler across his three seasons in the league.
Since Kamara joined the Saints, they have made it to the playoffs every season and have been top competitors. No one can deny that the Saints are a Super Bowl caliber team, who consistently get better every year.
Kamara has made a massive impact in offense, with over 2,400 rushing yards in his career and over 2,000 receiving yards. His presence on the team greatly adds to the Saints’ offense and certainly gives them favorable odds in the NFL betting markets.
Ezekiel Ansah
Born and raised in Ghana before moving to the US, Ansah is a strong and aggressive defensive end in the NFL. Standing at 6’5’’ 275 lbs, he is a force on the field and lets the opposing team feel his presence. Now in his 8th year in the NFL, he has a total of 236 tackles and 50 sacks. This shows he has had great success thus far, and was even Pro Bowl worthy in 2015. He spent six years with the Detroit Lions and one with the Seattle Seahawks.
Currently heading into his 8th season, Ansah is at a crossroads and it’s an exciting time for him. After battling injuries that kept him out of a lot of games with the Seahawks, they decided to let him go after his one year contract was up. Now, Ansah is a free agent with multiple choices in front of him.
Healed up and better than ever, Ansah has shown that he is ready to play at the level he did in 2015 when he went to the Pro Bowl. There are several rumors of where he could end up – the New York Giants being one of the main candidates – but apparently his former team, the Lions, have shown great interest in bringing Ansah back into the squad.
Keep an eye on this sensational player, as he is poised to have a big year going into the 2020-21 season.
Uchenna Nwosu
At only 23 years old, Uchenna Nwosu is a young and ambitious player who has made a big impression on his team, the Los Angeles Chargers. As an outside linebacker, his job is to put pressure on the opposing quarterback whenever possible. Standing at 6’2” 250 lbs, he is both agile and strong and able to break through the opposing team’s offensive line to find his target.
In 2018, the promising young athlete was drafted 48th overall. His first two years in the league were a big adjustment from his university days, and he has shown that he is able to grow and adapt to playing at the professional level. This season should be a big breakout year where he demonstrates his abilities further.
Chukwuma Okorafor
Okorafor is a 22 year old Nigerian who plays for the sensational Pittsburgh Steelers as an offensive tackle. He is known for being especially intimidating on the field, standing at 6’6’’ and 320 lbs. As of now, his role as a backup could be coming to an end, as it looks likely he will be getting a full starting position in 2020. After two seasons in the league, he has picked up enough knowledge to perform at the required level.
This current season should be big for the young athlete, and Steelers fans are waiting to see his abilities.
