Patterson's American dream coming true

News

There is nothing unusual about a young footballer and rugby player switching codes but earning an American Football scholarship is certainly not a road well travelled.

But that is the journey former Cavan minor footballer Ronan Patterson is taking after the Ramor United clubman was offered the chance of a lifetime with the prestigious Monmouth University in New Jersey, a Division 1 American Football programme.

Patterson, a former stand-out rugby player with Virginia Rugby Club and Ulster underage squads, saw an advertisement online for kickers earlier this year and began to practise, culminating in being offered a scholarship with the college giants.

“I started training four months ago after seeing ‘Leader Kicking’ online,” the 23-year-old told the Anglo-Celt.

“I tried it out for myself and I had the natural ability to kick with a rugby and GAA background.”

When the Celt spoke to the young Virginia man, he was travelling across the States visiting colleges who had shown an interest in him.

“When I come back, I will be home until mid-July and then I’ll be heading out for training camp.

“I finished my undergraduate in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics and will be doing a Masters, an MBA in Business Management,” he said.