From the floor gymnast to football star: Justin Okoronkwo follows NFL dream

From the floor gymnast to football star: Justin Okoronkwo follows NFL dream

Fürstenfeldbruck, Deutschland - an up-and-coming star in the football sky! Justin Okoronkwo, the 21-year-old linebacker from Germany, causes a stir. With impressive 1.90 meters and 103 kilograms, it brings everything you need to start in the NFL. Born in Munich, the leap from German football made the renowned Alabama Crimson Tide, a college team with 16 championships and a place in the Rose Bowl 2024. But the way to fame is not without challenges!

After only one year at the Nuremberg Rams, Okoronkwo ventured to the USA. "I was immediately fascinated by the sport," he says. With a 40-yard sprint of only 4.61 seconds, it is a real power pack, but he knows: Physics alone is not enough! "We have to master all plays perfectly," he explains as he prepares for the opponent's moves. With a small headphone in the ear that gives him instructions from the defensive coordinator, he is ready to put his opponents under pressure.

on the way to the NFL: a big dream

Although Okoronkwo is far from his home in Alabama, he does not feel homesickness. "I quickly settled in," he reports, adding that his parents may visit him for a game. He spends his free time with cooking, playing the piano and gaming at the PlayStation - and of course with sleep in! The big dream of the talented athlete? To play in the NFL once. "I hope to be there at the Draft 2027 or 2028," says Okoronkwo determined. With his role models Ray Lewis and Luke Kuechly as inspiration, he is determined to find his place in football Olympus.