XFL: Houston Roughnecks Sign German former Seattle Seahawks LB Aaron Donkor
The 6’2″, 240 pound, German linebacker has spent the last two seasons on the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Donkor appeared in one preseason game before being sidelined by a hamstring injury. Head coach Pete Carroll kept him because he was a “pain in the butt” with his intensity and competitiveness during practice.
More end-of-preseason issues from #Seahawks defense trying to play cover 1 rat via mugged nickel over front. Pressure solves a lot of back-end issues. Aligned wide, Aaron Donkor won his 1v1 with a nice rush angle and dip-rip. QB missed curl of hank concept pic.twitter.com/Lsa5e66EJo
— Matty F. Brown (@mattyfbrown) August 31, 2021
Donkor originally got on the NFL radar by running a 4.46 40-yard dash among other impressive combine measurements. Donkor does have college football experience, playing the 2019 season with Arkansas State (NCAA DI) where he collected 25 tackles in only six games for the Red Wolves. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic prevented him from playing any more college football.
Before moving to the States, Donkor grew up playing basketball in Göttingen, Germany before moving to Aachen to train with his mentor Chris Mohr. In 2016, at the late age of 21, the basketball player opted for the gridiron joining the Düsseldorf Panther football club of the German Football League. It’s safe to say it didn’t take him long to adjust to the new sport. In his first year of football, Donkor led the German Football League with 14 sacks, while totally 74 tackles, and 20 tackles for a loss.
LB Aaron Donkor war zuletzt beim Mic'd Up der #Seahawks am Start. Ob er seinen Teamkollegen erzählt hat, dass er verkabelt ist? 🤣
🎥: https://t.co/Aiygqg56eu pic.twitter.com/Loiidy0LFp
— German Sea Hawkers (@SeaHawkersGER) September 7, 2021
Donkor, under the NFL’s IPP Program, could’ve continued to be a part of the Seahawks Practice Squad for another season and not counted against the practice squad quota. Instead, the combine freak and DI international talent will join Wade Phillips and the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL to pursue playing time.
Read more about Aaron Donkor’s incredible journey from Germany to the NFL here
Watch Donkor’s NCAA highlights here
