German NFL Academy star Kevin Bentin is moving to the USA

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Kevin Bentina promising German football talent, has taken a significant step in his career. The 20-year-old defensive lineman from Hamburg will play for the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks in the Northeast Conference starting in the 2025/26 season. This move not only marks a personal success for Bentin, but also underlines the growing importance of German young talent in American football.

Kevin Bentin – From Hamburg via London to Brooklyn.

Bentin’s path to college football in the USA is remarkable. Born on August 27, 2004 in Hamburg, he began his football career with the Hamburg Young Huskies. From there he made the jump to the prestigious NFL Academy in Great Britain, where he was trained until this year.

The NFL Academy, established in Loughborough in 2019, offers talented students a unique combination of full-time education and intensive football training led by a world-class coaching staff. Bentin made the most of this opportunity and was able to present himself to various universities and colleges during the Academy’s US tour.

Scholarship as a reward for hard work.

Kevin Bentin made a particularly strong impression at Long Island University in Brooklyn. His performance impressed those in charge at the LIU Sharks, who then offered him a football scholarship. The young German gratefully accepted this offer.

“I would like to thank my family and the coaches who have accompanied me throughout my journey,” said Bentin when announcing his scholarship. “The Academy is a place that welcomes us, through which we grow and prepares us for the future path, and my further path will therefore continue with Long Island University.”

NFL Germany sees potential in the young talent.

Alexander Steinforth, General Manager NFL Germany, was enthusiastic about Bentin’s success: “Kevin Bentin is a great example of the potential that Germany’s young footballers have. We are proud that more and more young talents from Germany are finding their way into college programs in the USA and can play there at the highest level.”

Steinforth also sees Bentin’s move as a confirmation of the NFL’s efforts to promote football in Germany. “His success shows that our efforts to promote football in Germany are paying off. We look forward to following his path and are convinced that he and other German players will help shape the future of American football.”

NFL Academy success story.

Bentin’s success is not an isolated case. Since the program’s inception, more than 40 alumni have received scholarships to play college football in the United States. There are over 30 students playing college football in the 2024-2025 season, including 19 at Division 1 college programs.

Photo: NFL

These numbers underscore the success of the NFL Academy and show that the program builds an important bridge between young European talent and the American college football system.

Outlook: German talent in the NFL?

Kevin Bentin’s move to Long Island University continues a trend that has become increasingly clear in recent years: German football talent is increasingly pushing into US college football and thus potentially also towards the NFL.

While there is still a long way to go to the professional league, players like Bentin are laying the foundation for a possible career in American professional football. They also inspire younger players in Germany and show that the dream of a football career in the USA can be quite realistic.

The development of Kevin Bentin and other German talents will be followed with excitement in the coming years. Their success could not only advance their personal careers, but also further increase the popularity and level of American football in Germany.

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