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Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer
Reigning Olympic men’s discus champion Roje Stona of Jamaica has switched sports and will try out for the NFL through its International Player Pathway program.
Stona, 25, hopes to emulate the career of former professional rugby player Jordan Mailata, who advanced through the IPP to earn a spot on an active roster with the Philadelphia Eagles. Stona will be joined in the 14-player IPP by Australian rugby star Jordan Petaia along with athletes from Fiji, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.
Stona, a former University of Arkansas track star who won Olympic gold in Paris in August, was contacted shortly after that win and presented with the opportunity to take a spot in the 10-week IPP program. Stona has previous experience with football, having participated in Arkansas football’s pro day in March and participating in minicamps with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers last spring.
Scouts at the pro day said he had the skills to try out as a defensive end and tight end.
Stona decided to test his arm by competing in the discus and made it a priority, culminating in an Olympic record 70-meter throw in Paris.
“After the Olympic Games, [the IPP] He extended his hand again. I was like, ‘Hey, the door’s open’ again,” Stona told ESPN’s Alexis Nunes. “Of course, I accept it. At the Olympic Games I won gold and set a record. And after that offseason, they approached me again, so I jumped at the opportunity.”
Since the IPP program began, 41 international players have signed with teams, with 23 IPP athletes currently on NFL rosters and five on active rosters: Mailata (Australia), Efe Obada (Commanders/UK), Sammis Reyes (Vikings /Chili). , Thomas Odukoya (Titans/Netherlands) and David Bada (Lions/Germany).
Stona said he enjoys watching the Lions and Chiefs offenses and admires the Eagles, Ravens and Vikings defenses. His interest in sports began following Clemson, where he began his collegiate career in track and field before transferring to Arkansas.
Stona is still weighing his options. He has kept the door open for a return to puck, but his immediate focus is on impressing at the IPP camp, which begins in January in Florida.
“It’s a lot of variables. A lot of things can happen in a few months, you know what I mean?” Stona said. “So it’s hard to say what’s going to happen, but obviously I’m going to take it one step at a time. First, I’m going to make sure I try to get through this camp successfully.”
