Louis Rees-Zammit was one of 16 International Player Pathway prospects to take part in the Pro Day at the University of South Florida on Wednesday

Louis Rees-Zammit’s dream of becoming an NFL star got a little closer on Wednesday when he showed off his skills at the International Player Pathway (IPP) Pro Day.

The former rugby union star did so well that he got invites from the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. He has more meetings with teams coming up, who are interested in his speed and ability to avoid tackles. Before he left rugby, he played 31 times for Wales and scored 14 tries.

Rees-Zammit is one of 16 hopefuls from around the world who went to Florida in January for a 10-week training course at the famous IMG Academy high school campus. This was all leading up to Wednesday’s Pro Day.

Even though he didn’t do as well as he hoped, he still believes he can make it in the NFL. Other members of the IPP, including fellow Brits George Smith, Travis Clayton, Harry Mallinder and Praise Olatoke, also believe they can make their dreams come true.

The NFL has added an extra practice squad spot for each team just for international players. This gives these talented athletes a better chance to learn the game.

Mirror US Sports had a chat with Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press to get the inside scoop on what went down at the University of South Florida for the IPP Pro Day. He was there, talking to the hopefuls and the NFL scouts who came to watch.

What did the scouts and reporters think about Louis Rees-Zammit’s pro day performance?

“LRZ drew a lot of attention because he’s young, quick, and has a lot of talent. I saw more scouts chatting with him than any other player. Given his nickname – ‘Rees-Lightning’ – some were let down by his 40-yard dash time, but that can happen.”

“I was really impressed with how well he can catch the football. He’ll need to keep learning how to run routes. He might have a shot as a returner and could maybe play running back, which he seems more comfortable with right now. But he’d need to learn how to block and other parts of the RB position besides just carrying the football.”

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How did Rees-Zammit feel about how he did?

“He told me he wasn’t happy with his 40. He clocked in the 4.4s on his second run. He said he’s run the 40 in the 4.2s and 4.3s range.”

Did any of the other IPP prospects stand out? Did anyone have any standout moments?

“Praise Olatoke – a Scottish-Nigerian prospect – was really fast. I didn’t get his 40 time [the NFL later announced he ran 4.36s], but he was impressive. He stood out to me. Each of the players showed they were special athletes.”

You have been to numerous pro days and seen many NFL players over the years. How did the IPP players stack up in terms of fundamentals as well as athleticism? Do you think they can make the step up?

“They’ve got raw ability and incredible athleticism. They need to catch up on fundamentals and understanding of the game. The NFL is an intricate sport. There’s a ton of complexities. Learning the nuances of the game is a major transition and that’s why a major part of the focus during this program is the classroom part of football.”

Were representatives of all 32 teams in attendance to your knowledge?

“There were 51 scouts from 31 teams. No LA Rams.”