Interesting. China's latest export could be a football player. Kicker Long Ding, who hails from Qing Dao, China, participated as a tryout player last week at the Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie mini-camp: Chinese kicker Long Ding, joins Jaguars mini-camp.A product of NFL China's four-year football introduction program, apparently made an impression, but didn't come up with a contract. However, he is reportedly being seriously looked at to fill in some gaps with the AFL's Pittsburgh Power: Chinese kicker could be answer for Power.
Ding is a product of NFL China, the league's attempt to introduce football into that country. He played rugby in China and, with the help of the International Federation of American Football, moved to New Hampshire in 2007 to play high school football. He then kicked for Norwich University in Vermont.Ding is trying to become the first Chinese native to play in the NFL. No doubt, the NFL would love to get a foothold on a possible Chinese fanbase. And seriously, with a name like Long Ding, he was all but destined to become a kicker. More here: Jaguars kicker Long Ding hopes to make China proud.
He was not chosen in April's NFL draft but his tryout with Jacksonville may just be the beginning.
"He is the end result of a four-year program they started in NFL China, one where they wanted to introduce China to the NFL," said Cindrich of Pittsburgh. "He went to the tryouts over there; he was an all-star rugby player.