NFL Draft Diamonds has released the news that the New York Giants will be working out French wide receiver Anthony Dablé who was slated to attend the NFL Regional Combine in March, and British tight end Harry Innis.
Former New York Giants All-Pro defensive end and British native Osi Umenyiora has spearheaded an effort on the part of the NFL and NFL UK to help European-born players gain more recognition.
Naturally, the NFL regular season games in London have garnered plenty of attention and interest in American football in Europe and especially in the UK where it is on a steep rise.
According to NFL Draft Diamonds, who focus on searching out under-the-radar draft prospects, the Giants have workouts set for both European players.
Innis is a 6’7″, 265 lb tight end who played in Finland in 2015 for the Seinäjoki Crocodiles and in Germany for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes in 2014.
Dablé has starred for one of Europe’s top teams, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions for the past two seasons winning two German championships and the Eurobowl in 2015. The 6’4″, 220 lb wideout also starred on the French national team in the 2015 IFAF World Championships in Canton, Ohio.
With New York representing the traditional gateway for immigrants entering the United States, it is only fitting that it is the site of a “football immigration”. Both players are eligible to sign now, as the NFL considers them free agents. They would also be considered rookies. If they not signed by March 5th, both players will attend a Regional Combine in Minnesota.
Other European players on the Giants roster, besides Umenyiora, include current defensive end Markus Kuhn from Germany (N.C. State) and former Swedish kicker Bjorn Nittmo (Appalachian State) who played for the Giants in 1989.
Sources: NFL Draft Diamonds, Big Blue View.