German-American Brandon Coleman has made the leap into the US Football League NFL. The Washington Commanders selected the offensive tackle from Berlin third overall in the third round of the talent draft in Detroit. Coleman was the 67th pick overall in the draft.

“I’m so grateful to get this opportunity. I’m going to celebrate with my family and some friends from Germany – and then I’m going to get to work. I’m speechless,” said the 23-year-old, who most recently played for the college team at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Coleman’s mother is German, his father US-American. Born in Texas, he also grew up in Berlin and moved to the USA for good at the age of 15. There he initially hoped for a career as a basketball player before concentrating entirely on football.

In Washington, Coleman’s main role will be to support new quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was drafted second overall. “It’s going to be great. I’m looking forward to learning from this talent,” he says.

Defensive lineman Julius Welschof (Miesbach/Bavaria), on the other hand, will have to hope for a later of the seven scheduled draft rounds