NFL Academy Leaps into Action: Series against Bonner & Prendie, IMG, and Erasmus Hall

An international huddle is all set to take the field this Fall. The NFL Academy, the NFL’s prestigious player development program for promising international student athletes, has unveiled its game plan. The Academy will be playing against three respected U.S. high schools – a line-up that heralds the first competitive games under the fresh leadership of the new NFL Academy Head, Lamonte Winston, and Head Coach Steve Hagen.

This high-octane series will commence with a game against Bonner & Prendie in Dublin this August, followed by a match against IMG Academy at the Loughborough headquarters. The grand finale will pit the Academy against Erasmus Hall at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the NFL London Games week in October.

Both Winston and Hagen, who are bringing a cornucopia of NFL and college football experience to the Academy, shared their high spirits and ambitions for this ambitious endeavor.

“The NFL Academy is an integral part of the League’s global football development endeavors,” explained Winston. “Playing against these high caliber high schools is a testament to our vision for the program. I can’t wait to see some great football across these games and throughout our season.”

Hagen shared his excitement for the upcoming games, saying, “I’m personally looking forward to seeing how we compete against these well-established high schools. These games are an invaluable opportunity for our young players to compete and grow.”

The Academy’s schedule against U.S. high schools kicks off with a face-off against Bonner & Prendie in Dublin at the Donnybrook Stadium on August 25. Bonner & Prendie had an exceptional season last year, snagging the regional school championship. This game, hosted by G.I.F.T, aligns with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic where Notre Dame Fighting Irish will spar with the Navy Midshipmen.

On October 6, the Academy will be looking for redemption in a rematch against Florida’s IMG Academy, one of the country’s top high school football teams. IMG Academy defeated the NFL Academy 26-14 in an engaging duel last year at The Grove in Watford, UK.

Four days later, the NFL Academy will welcome Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in what’s being dubbed the ‘unofficial fourth London Game’ this season. Erasmus Hall, fresh from their win at a 7-on-7 championship hosted by The New York Jets, is widely regarded as a Division 1 NCAA football talent factory.

The NFL Academy, launched in September 2019, is a game-changer, using American football to create transformative opportunities for young people worldwide. The Academy offers a platform for talented student athletes aged 16-19 to combine their education with an extensive life skills program and in-depth training in the sport.

Based in Loughborough, UK, in collaboration with Loughborough College and Loughborough University, the program promotes world-class performance and the development of elite player pathways. In the 2023-24 academic year, the NFL Academy will support 61 student athletes from 13 different countries, with nine former NFL Academy alumni playing Division 1 NCAA college football in 2023 at top schools including Tennessee, Temple, Colorado, Vanderbilt, Bryant, Mississippi State, and Hawaii.

For more updates and information on the NFL Academy’s season visit NFL Academy. To further the conversation, follow us at @coolbruthas. And remember, in life as in sport – Stay Fresh, Stay True.