London backed to produce an NFL superstar by Jacksonville Jaguars legend Tony Boselli

On the ball: Ex-NFL player Tony Boselli with students at Dunraven School in Streatham
Lucy Young
Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo30 September 2016

Former NFL star Tony Boselli has predicted that London will produce an American Football superstar within a matter of years as interest in the sport continues to soar.

Boselli, 44, hailed as the best player in the history of Florida’s Jacksonville Jaguars team, said the UK was fertile ground for American Football talent. He added that although children here were obviously more familiar with the British version of football, he knew many were “falling in love” with the US game. “I think in years to come we will start to see more and more British and London talent coming through to play in the NFL,” he told the Standard.

“There are so many great athletes here who would be so successful at American Football, they just need a bit more time to develop and hone their game. There are lots of big, powerful guys... I predict big things.”

Boselli added: “Soccer is obviously the most popular sport in this country, but American Football provides some exceptional opportunities too and something different for those who don’t want to play soccer. I really hope we find a big sporting star from the UK who can take the US by storm soon.”

Britons including Jay Ajayi, Lawrence Okoye and Efe Obada have already enjoyed American Football success but Boselli predicted the next wave of UK talent would surpass their achievements.

Boselli, who played for Jacksonville for six years and then moved to the Houston Texans before retiring due to injury, was speaking as he visited children at Dunraven School in Streatham ahead of Sunday’s clash between the Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts at Wembley Stadium. He gave pupils free tickets to the sold-out NFL International Series game as part of the Jaguars’ programme to reward positive behaviour at two schools, Dunraven and Fulham Enterprise Studio.

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