All four AFC South clubs will carry these players on their roster until the end of training camp. At that time, players are eligible for an international player scrimmage waiver, giving the team an additional scrimmage member. Clubs have the opportunity to elevate the player to the active roster during the season.
The AFC South was chosen to receive these players in a random drawing and becomes the sixth division to participate in the program.
This year’s class brings the total number of players who have been assigned to clubs through the program to 24.
Players who participated in the program in 2021 will rejoin their NFC West teams. Aaron Donkor (Seattle Seahawks), Alfredo Gutierrez (San Francisco 49ers), max pircher (Los Angeles Rams) and Bernhard Seikovits (Arizona Cardinals).
This is in addition to Isaac Alarcon (Dallas Cowboys), david bada (Washington Commanders), matthew leo (Philadelphia Eagles) and Sandro Platzgummer (New York Giants), who are set to enter their third year of the program with their NFC East teams.
Since the program’s inception in 2017, more than 50 players from 18 countries have trained in the U.S. In addition to Mbaeteka and Ndubuisi, the program has also helped players like Efe Obada (Washington Commanders), Jacob Johnson (New England Patriots), Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles) and sammis reyes (Washington Commanders) earn a spot in the NFL after participating in the show’s training session.
Last season, both Johnson and Mailata recorded their 1,000th career snap joining Obada in IPP players to reach this milestone in their NFL career.
New players participating in the 2022 International Player Pathway Program:
Marcel Dabo, DB (Germany) — Indianapolis Colts
He played in the Stuttgart Scorpions youth soccer program before entering the European Football League as a cornerback and kick returner for the Stuttgart Surge last season, recording 28 tackles and 1 interception. He earned a spot on the 2021 ELF All-Star team and won the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Adedayo Odeleye, DL (UK) — Houston Texans
Born in Nigeria and raised in the UK from the age of 9. He began playing football in 2017 at Loughborough University, where he played on the disabled list for three years and was named team captain in his second year. He participated in the training phase of the 2021 International Player Pathway but was not assigned to a team. He spent last season with the Berlin Thunder of the European Football League, where he was included in the ELF All-Star team.
Thomas Odukoya, TE (Netherlands) — Tennessee Titans
He started playing soccer at the age of 16 in the Netherlands, where he was named the Dutch National MVP. He played college football at East Michigan University, where he captained the team for two seasons and received All-MAC academic honors.
Ayo Oyelola, DB (UK) — Jacksonville Jaguars
He got his start in football at the University of Nottingham, where he graduated in 2020. He participated in the training phase of the International Player Pathway 2021, but was not assigned to a team. He spent the last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.