INTERVIEW: NFL Starlet Francis Kallon

Photo by Erik S. Lesser

Hollywood stories like this don’t come around very often. Just one year ago, Wandsworth born Francis Kallon moved over to America with his family and experienced the world of American football that would change his life forever.

Admitting he didn’t even know what American football was about, Francis was encouraged to try it out by his high school coach, Todd Wofford who noticed his potential and led him onto the sport. Since then, Kallon has become a national prodigy and received 15 scholarship offers in a matter of weeks from top universities around the country, before settling for Georgia State.

Explaining the feeling behind all this attention flying his way, Kallon claims: “It was scary at first, but it was such a great opportunity to go to a top college as well. It was surprising of course, but it was good!

“My coach (Todd Wofford) pursued me and persuaded me to come join the team, so eventually, after agreeing it with my parents, I was allowed to play. I wanted to try a different sport, but I didn’t know it would be up the avenue that it was.”

“The NFL is definitely in the picture, and if it comes I’ll take it.”

So for a man that’s only been playing the sport just over a year, compared to the millions of teenagers across the U.S. that spend their whole adolescence fighting for a shot at scholarships, Kallon has picked it up extraordinarily fast. With a history in basketball and football, Kallon admits it was surprising that everything came so natural to him.

“The way I was able to move and do the things I was told so easily was strange. It was hard at first with the rules and everything, but I picked it up quickly.”

Naturally, such raw talent always creates a buzz. Sections of the British media have already branded Kallon NFL bound, despite him only just starting university, but as he explains, it’s the same in the U.S. and just something he deals with everyday.

“It’s a lot of pressure but it’s something that could happen if I keep working at it the way I am because it is possible.”

For all this attention flying Kallon’s way, he remains grounded about his chances, and instead is focused on achieving his degree in biochemical engineering.

“Right now I’m just looking to do as best I can in college and graduating, but the NFL is definitely in the picture, and if it comes I’ll take it.”

With his feet firmly on earth, Francis Kallon is a man with a very, very bright future. Remember the name, no doubt we’ll be hearing it much more in the years to come.