Louis Rees-Zammit, an ex-Wales rugby union player, is visiting the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets in hopes of landing an NFL deal.
The former winger earned 31 appearances for his country, earning a reputation as a burgeoning starlet, but rocked his sport when he announced his plans to explore a new chapter in January. The 23-year-old expressed his desire to transition to American football before enrolling in the 2024 International Player Pathway (IPP).
Two months after declaring, Rees-Zammit has begun the process of potentially donning his cleats in the NFL. He was one of 16 aspirants who participated in a variety of drills in front of scouts at the University of South Florida’s Pro Day event.
Former Northampton Saints ace Harry Mallinder, Gaelic footballers Rory Beggan, Charlie Smyth, and Mark Jackson, and Scottish athletics star Praise Olatoke were among those in attendance for the Sunshine State event. In order to grab the attention of representatives from the NFL’s 32 franchises, they all participated in bench press, vertical jump, and 40-yard sprint tests.
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Now, the Welshman has reflected on his Pro Day efforts and made a sly admission about his future, heading to X to post a mysterious message. He stated, “What a day, and a huge thank you to everyone at the International Player Pathway for granting me this opportunity. It has been a whirlwind two months that I will never forget for the rest of my life. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
This follows the revelation that Rees-Zammit is already in high demand in the NFL, having reportedly sparked interest, according to RugbyPass. According to their claim, three teams are battling for the prospect’s signature, with each offering a $900,000-per-year deal.
Following this, the former rugby union player proceeded to Instagram to publish updates in his stories section, which appeared to show him at the Browns and Jets’ training grounds. The NFL has since announced that Rees-Zammit would visit teams after his Pro Day, beginning with the Browns and Jets. Following that, he will visit other teams.
He recorded a startling 4.44 seconds in the 40m sprint at Pro Day, indicating that he is an attractive prospect for NFL organizations. Rees-Zammit previously stated that he had a wealth of transferable abilities from his rugby career.
He explained: “In terms of position, in rugby, I want the ball at all times. So, I believe it would be on offense, either as a running back or a receiver, or as a hybrid. Whatever I am instructed, I shall do. My major strength in rugby was my speed, which is incredibly transferable.
“I’d like to think I have good hands and don’t drop the ball very often. But this is a different sport, and the ball comes at you quickly, so I understand it would require some training. I have a lot of footwork skills, which is extremely important in American football.”
The Welsh hopeful added: “There will be a variety of skills, but I can also improve on what I already have. The faster I can learn the game, the better because I’ll be able to demonstrate my abilities to everyone.
