Rory Beggan and Mark Jackson are among the four Irish athletes who will participate in NFL trials in February.
The NFL confirmed the participants in its 16-strong International Player Pathway class of 2024 this afternoon.
It includes no fewer than four Irish athletes, three Gaelic footballers - Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan, Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson and Down's Charlie Smyth - and one professional rugby player, Connacht full-back Darragh Leader.
Introducing the International Player Pathway Class of 2024!
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2024
Established in 2017, the league's IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster. pic.twitter.com/rHM998TOlJ
The training camp will take place at Florida's IMG Academy, at the end of which the athletes will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to NFL team scouts in March.
Beggan told the Pro Football Ireland podcast: "I don't want to go over there and live two or three years in the practice roster and not make a good chop at it. I want to be in the top 32 kickers in the world. That's why I'm going here. I want to succeed. I want to be the best.
"I wouldn't have made that decision if I wasn't full throttle.
"To make that decision was tough. It was tough. All your friends are at home, playing a sport which is a big part of the community. But when an opportunity like this came around, it's not something you can just put away and hope will come again."
Beggan and Jackson's involvement had been flagged before Christmas, with Monaghan manager Vinny Corey saying on Tuesday that the former would still be around for the first few rounds of the Allianz Football League and would be available for selection.
Wicklow manager Oisín McConville told Second Captains last week that Jackson's prospects of earning an NFL contract was "more realistic than people think".
As indicated this week, Welsh winger Louis Rees-Zammit is among those bound for Florida. Former Northampton and England Under-20 international Harry Malinder and Coventry second row George Smyth are also named.
NFL International Player Pathway Class 2024
Rory Beggan, Ireland
Mark Jackson, Ireland
Charlie Smyth, Ireland
Darragh Leader, Ireland
Jotham Russell, Australia
Patrick Murtagh, Australia
Florian Bierbaumer, Austria
Bayron Matos, Dominican Republic
George Smith, England
Travis Clayton, England
Harry Mallinder, England
Sam Orji, Nigeria
Isaac Ajanah, Nigeria
Udo Uzuegbu, Nigeria
Praise Olatoke, Nigeria/Scotland
Louis Rees-Zammit, Wales
