Porirua-born athlete Nathaniel Salmon has accepted an offer to play college American football for the Washington State Cougars, following an unusual journey that has taken him from New Zealand basketball to the United States in just two years.
The 21-year-old had never played American football until recently. He was previously pursuing a basketball career, playing in the National Basketball League for the Manawatū Jets and the Wellington Saints.
In 2024, while playing basketball in Australia, Salmon was approached by the NFL International Player Pathway programme, an initiative designed to give international athletes the chance to learn American football and trial for professional teams.
“The opportunity that was laid out to me was pretty life-changing,” he told RNZ. “Who wouldn’t give it a shot?”
After attending a trial, Salmon was selected and sent to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. There, he completed a 10-week intensive training programme in early 2025.
Coaches identified him as a tight end, a position that combines catching and blocking responsibilities and often suits athletes with a basketball background. Standing more than two metres tall and weighing over 120kg, Salmon said the transition was challenging at first.
“At first, it was pretty hard,” he told RNZ. “Obviously, it was my first time putting on a helmet and pads, so that was new. I just kept training and I just started falling in love with it.”
Salmon later attended a pro-day, where athletes showcase their skills to scouts. That performance earned him an invitation to an early-season minicamp with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“When I got there, I didn’t feel like I shouldn’t have been there,” he told RNZ. “When we started training, I felt like I was keeping up with all the guys that were playing high-level college football for four years.”
Salmon was not signed to the Chargers’ international player roster spot, and at that point his hopes of continuing in American football appeared uncertain. However, his management team then identified that he was eligible to play college football because he had never been to college and had not signed an NFL contract.
After several months, Salmon was granted four full years of NCAA eligibility. In November, he began receiving offers and visiting universities across the United States with his parents.
“They just treat you like you’re a superstar,” he told RNZ. “It was an unreal experience for not only me, but my parents as well.”
Washington State University ultimately stood out.
“It honestly felt like home, when I first got there,” Salmon told RNZ.
Salmon said he was still learning the game but had developed a strong drive to improve.
“I have a drive to get better and I want to reach my ceiling with this game,” he told RNZ.