NFL Academy quarterback Sam Fenton has added another first to the initiative’s growing list, after accepting an offer to transfer to the University of South Florida for the 2025 college football season.

The Academy, which was launched in London in 2019 before relocating to the renowned sporting environment at Loughborough University, has produced a string of graduates that have gone on to join Division I schools from Arkansas to Ole Miss, but Fenton is unique in being the first ‘homegrown’ quarterback to be afforded — and commit to — the same opportunity. Although the 21-year-old is not guaranteed to even take the field, let alone become the starter for the Bulls, he at least has a foot in the door, and the chance to further Britain’s dream of producing a bona fide NFL superstar.

“I’m incredibly proud to announce that I have transferred to the University of South Florida to study economics and compete as a Division I Football student-athlete,” Fenton wrote in a LinkedIn post. “It’s a true honour to make history as the first UK high school quarterback to join a DI college football programme — a dream turned reality through years of hard work, sacrifice and belief. I’m beyond grateful to everyone who’s supported me on this journey — family, coaches, teammates, and mentors. Your belief in me has meant everything, and I look forward to playing football out here in Florida for USF. ”

*Despite Fenton’s achievement as the first NFL Academy prospect to transfer to the US college scene as a quarterback, it has been pointed out to Gridiron that both Tom Clancy (SGS/Filton College to North Texas) and Tom Britton (London Capitals to Cornell) also made similar moves in previous years, although Clancy was converted to receiver during his time with the Mean Green.