Latest news with #InternationalPathwayProgram
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints backup Charlie Smyth outkicks multiple pros at Kohl's Kicking Camp
The New Orleans Saints have had quite a kicker dilemma over the past few seasons, from Blake Grupe to Wil Lutz, to Brett Maher, Brian Johnson, and others. It has been a revolving door ever since Lutz's injury and eventual trade. Grupe has been able to hold onto the job for two full seasons now, and while he has had a few hiccups at times, overall, he has been a reliable option. A field goal success rate of 83.8% and an extra point rate of 97.3% indicate a relatively strong performance. The newcomer to the room, however, is Charlie Smyth, an International Pathway Program product who got an opportunity in the 2024 preseason and made the most of it with a game-winning field goal. Now, however, he is competing with some of the league's best at kicking beating them all? In a recent report from Nick Underhill of he shared that Smyth won the first-day kicking competition at the Kohl's Kicking Camp. He went up against multiple high-level NFL placekickers, such as Daniel Carlson, Jack Fox, Austin Seibert, Dustin Hopkins, Evan McPherson, and more at this camp. Outkicking them head-to-head is enormously impressive, especially given this is only the start of his second season in the NFL. Hopefully, over time, he can continue to hone in on his abilities and really put up a fight for the starting role. Frankly, from what he has displayed so far in his career at this point, he certainly could make a run at it this preseason if he showcases the leg power he has in practices. This may be a training camp battle to watch in 2025.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jersey number for latest Patriots free agent addition revealed
New England Patriots defensive tackle David Olajiga will wear No. 96 for the team, per the team's official website. Olajiga, a London native, was signed as part of the International Pathway Program. That means he does not count against the Patriots' 90-man roster limit set by the NFL. The Patriots spent all offseason trying to improve their defensive front. Their big free agent signing back in March was former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams. They also used a fourth-round draft pick on Florida State rookie defender Joshua Farmer. Olajiga measures in at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds. He played college football at Central Missouri, appearing in 32 games and recording 98 tackles, nine sacks and four blocked kicks. He spent some time in the NFL on the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad last year. The defensive front should be a strength for the Patriots with the latest additions and a healthy Christian Barmore returning. It remains to be seen what Olajiga could potentially add to the mix. He'll get his opportunity like every other player on the Patriots' roster when training camp begins on Wednesday. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
NBC Sports
20-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Patriots sign London native David Olajiga
The Patriots signed first-year defensive tackle David Olajiga on Sunday, the team announced. Olajiga, who is a London native, joins the Patriots as part of the NFL's International Pathway Program. Olajiga, 27, spent last season on the Rams' practice squad after signing with the team out of Central Missouri. The Rams released him in May. He began his football career in high school at The John Fisher School in London. He appeared in 32 games at Central Missouri and recorded 98 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one pass defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four blocked kicks. He transferred to Central Missouri from Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, in 2020.
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots reportedly signing former Rams DT ahead of training camp
The New England Patriots are reportedly boosting their defensive front by signing former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle David Olajiga to a deal. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the news on Sunday. Olajiga, an English native, will be joining the team through the International Pathway Program. The move comes a couple of days before the Patriots' veterans are slated to report to training camp. Olajiga will be joining a much-improved Patriots defensive front spearheaded by Christian Barmore and Milton Williams. Rookie defensive tackle Joshua Farmer is expected to factor in significantly as well. The 27-year-old international defender will be looking to work his way in as a rotational piece or depth option for the Patriots. The Patriots were the worst team in the league in sack percentage, and they also ranked in the bottom half in rushing defense last season. So they are clearly looking to get more push up front and dominate in the trenches. Training camp is about opportunities and making the most of them. We'll see what Olajiga makes of his opportunity this summer. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Fox Sports
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Meet Lenny Krieg, a German Native Competing for the Falcons' Kicking Job
Lenny Krieg's strong leg could take him all the way from Germany to the NFL. A former soccer player, Krieg took up football in 2021 during COVID at the suggestion of his older brother, a former football player and current coach in Germany. He watched tutorials on social media to hone his technique and, after playing three seasons in his home country, the 22-year-old Berlin native was picked for the NFL's International Pathway Program. As part of that initiative, which aims to give elite athletes around the world a chance to make NFL rosters, Krieg participated in the Scouting Combine showcase in February. He went 14-for-14 in Indianapolis, kicking from 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 yards. That led to another solid performance at a pro day in South Florida and, in March, Krieg was signed by the Atlanta Falcons. He enters training camp with the opportunity to compete for the starting kicker job against NFL veteran Younghoe Koo. It may sound like a fairy tale, but it's not so farfetched when you consider that Krieg has made a 73-yard kick in practice. Krieg was one of several young specialists who recently participated in former NFL kicker Nick Novak's annual pro week in San Diego. After nine seasons in the NFL, Novak is now a high school coach, a kicking consultant and a mentor to developmental players. "I've watched Nick's social videos for a long time and it's almost like a dream coming true, a full-circle moment for me to be here with these guys," Krieg told me at the camp. "It's beneficial for me to integrate some of the things I've learned here into my process, figure out what works for me and what doesn't. So it's really valuable." Krieg has a legitimate shot to win the starting job over Koo, who is scheduled to make $4.25 million in 2025, making him the fourth-highest-paid kicker in the league. Koo, who turns 31 in August, made just 73.5% of his field-goal attempts last season, his lowest percentage since his rookie season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, when he made just 50% and lost the job after four games. In Week 10 last season, Koo missed three kicks in a 20-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He dealt with a hip injury for much of the season, which eventually landed him on IR in Week 16. After the Falcons lost six of their last eight games and missed the playoffs, however, coach Raheem Morris cited kicking as one of the issues. "We missed entirely too many kicks this year," Morris said in January. "The brutal honest truth — that can't happen. So, we got to find ways to make those kicks. That certainly plays into the part of not winning the amount of games you want to win. We got to find ways to create that competition across the board for all of us." The Falcons created that competition by signing Krieg to a three-year deal, which shows that Atlanta is invested in him. Koo is reportedly healthy now, so this could be one of the more interesting camp battles to watch. "There's 32 jobs in the league, and my job is to just perform to my level and improve every day," Krieg said when asked how he'll handle the competition with Koo. "And whatever happens, happens. I try to control what I can control, and whatever is out of my control is just something that's going to happen." What just might be in Krieg's control is that a talented but raw prospect from Berlin, who learned to kick an American football on YouTube, could soon be a starting kicker in the NFL. Photo courtesy of Nicole Noel Photography. Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
