While some fans may be aware of the budding Australian talents taking over the punting scenes on fourth downs across the NFL, other position players from down under are starting to whittle out a role for themselves in the pros. The next Aussie talent to earn his place in the league might just be Melbourne’s Talitiga Amosa.
Instituted in 2017, the NFL International Player Pathway program aims to give elite international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster.
So far, the program has helped players such as Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles/Australia), Sammis Reyes (Chicago Bears/Chile), and Jakob Johnson (New England Patriots/Germany) earn roster spots in the NFL.
The 24-year-old is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Mailata and other Aussie talents will take his best shot the NFL. The 6 ‘6″, 270 pounder played for New Mexico Military Institute (Junior College), East Los Angeles Community College (Junior College and Last Chance U) where he racked up 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in his eight games in 2018.
120,000km+ of flights
4 colleges
1 crucial shiner
A lot of lifting and a lot burritos6’5”, 125kg NFL hopeful Tali Amosa’s football journey to the NFL International Combine in London has been far from ordinary.
READ WHY📝 https://t.co/ZXR0SeEeBC pic.twitter.com/mHmEv5MDS7
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) September 30, 2022
Following that season, the Melbourne raised former rugby player joined Texas A&M Commerce University (NCAA DII) and made eight tackles and one sack as a junior in 2019. However, the COVID 19 pandemic cut his NCAA career short the following year.
Before chasing his gridiron dreams to the US, Amosa was a back-rower for Moorabbin Rams rugby club in Victoria. Similar to Australian NFL offensive lineman Daniel Faalele of the Baltimore Ravens, Amosa was also coached at Conquest Fitness by Dave Tuinauvai. There, he was introduced to former University of Hawaii offensive line coach Chris Naeole, starting his football journey.
This past summer he was an impact player for the Berlin Rebels in the German Football League making 28 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and two sacks. The quick twitch pass rusher lineman was invited to the NFL International Combine in London, England in October, impressing scouts with his technique, athleticism, and explosiveness.
