By Europe’s Elite
As we mentioned earlier this month, we will be announcing the award winners for the International Athlete of the year. This award will be recognizing four different award winners that represent international athletes who played American Football in 2021 at the Junior College level, High School football level (in the United States) , one male U19 and one female u19 athlete. Today we would like to recognize our first award winners at the junior college and high school football level, Jeffrey M’ba and Darren Agu.
Jeffrey M’ba is originally from the beautiful country of Gabon that is located on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. But M’ba began his football career in France where his home club is the Pionniers de Touraine. This past year M’ba was recognized as the top ranked junior college football prospect in the world. His size and elite athletisicm helped him rack up 50 tackles and 15 tackles for loss in his two junior college football seasons at Independence Community College. M’ba capped of his JUCO experince in December of 2021 as the world watched in anticipation for his commitment announcment to play for Auburn University in 2022.
Defensive edge rusher Darren Agu is our High School International Athlete for the 2021 season. Agu is a native of Ireland who grew up in London. Like many international athletes Agu hasnt been playing football for a long time. His American Football experience began with his home club the London Blitz. In the spring of 2020 Agu was one of the inital members part of the NFL Academy in London. But Agu really came on the college football recruting scene during his time at Rabun Gap-Nahoochee High School in Georgia. His the size and athleticism helped him dominate high school football this past season. Agu’s preformance on the field made him one of the most sought after college football recuits in the class of 2022. Now, he is heading to the University of Vanderbilt where he will play along side German athletes Linus Zunk and Yilanan Ouattara this fall.
This is what Rabun Gap head high school football coach Joe Sturdivant had to say about Darren Agu.
“Darren Agu as a player is like having a Ferrari that hits like a freight train coming off the edge as a defensive end. He has the physicality of a linebacker with the length of a true edge rusher . Darren can also line up at TE and be the best blocker on the field . He can run routes like an elite wife receiver. Darren Agu is truly deserving as the Player of the Year. I expect man more awards to come for him in the SEC. Darren Agu is a football player with a never ending motor. I’m so proud of him!
Darren is an incredible young man. He does everything right off the field . He’s a great leader, friend and role model. He is excellent the classroom and a model citizen. Darren is is a high character young man with incredible drive to do it right all the time !!”