Irish teen makes history with American Football scholarship

AN Irish teenager has made history by earning a scholarship to play American Football with a US College.

Nineteen-year-old, Glenn Baker, is the first Irish native signed up to play NCAA College football — the grooming ground for the NFL — with Mount Ida College in Massachusetts.

Baker took up the sport in 2004 when he joined the Cork Admirals as a 16-year-old. Due to his 6’6”, 20 stone frame and athletic ability, he quickly established himself as a starter on the side’s offensive line.

Before the end of his first season, he was selected for the national squad and played for Ireland against John Carroll University in the Celtic Classic game. Due to his family relocating to Athlone he then joined the Dublin Dragons for 2005 season.

Following his performances against Adrian College Michigan in the 2005 Celtic Classic, he was offered and accepted a scholarship to Salisbury Prep School in Connecticut.

Last year, he was one of only six European athletes (the other 5 were all German) who were awarded scholarships on the USA Football International Student Programme and spent the season with Cheshire Academy in Connecticut where he started on both the offensive and defensive lines. While there he also excelled in athletics, winning the New England High School Shot Putt Championship and performing well in the Discuss.

Former Irish National Coach Phil DeMonte.

“I do believe this is first time this has happened.

“It is an amazing story to think that someone can go from playing with his club, to his country to a scholarship in this space of time. Admittedly Mount Ida is in Division Three of the NCAA but they would still be getting a couple of thousand people at their games. This is potentially a pathway to a bigger school where he can be noticed by professional clubs.

“This is all pretty amazing. He was in the right place at the right time, and that’s what is often the most important thing in sports.”

DeMonte recalled: “Glen had lots of raw ability and was very eager to learn. His size made a big difference. A career in NFL Europe is not outside the bounds of possibility. He just needs to work on his collegiate career and hopefully step up from there.”