Former England Sevens captain Gray among four NFL global hopefuls

Alex Gray, a former England rugby sevens captain, was among four players named Thursday to NFL practice squads under a new International Player Pathway program. NFC South division teams -- the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints -- will each have a roster exemption to carry an extra practice squad member from outside the United States, although one that cannot be activated during the 2017 season. Gray, a tight end, will join the Falcons' reserve squad while fellow Englishman Alex Jenkins, a defensive end, will join the Saints' practice lineup. "I have been working hard for this goal and to be told it was going to happen was an amazing moment," Gray said. "This is the start of another journey. It is a fantastic thing that is happening, but I am not going to get to where I want to be without keeping myself grounded." Gray, 26, captained England rugby union Under-16, Under-18, Under-20 and International Sevens squads. He would have been on the Rio Olympic side had he not been sidelined by injury. Gray played for Newcastle Falcons, London Irish and Yorkshire Carnegie before converting to American football. "Making the decision to give this my all from rugby, there was a big transition period and it was mentally very humbling," Gray said. "When you have to start from scratch again, that was a huge mental battle for me. When I look back I will be very proud of the way I approached this." German linebacker Eric Nzeocha will join Tampa Bay's practice squad while Nigerian-American defensive end Efe Obada works with Carolina. The four have trained alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida. "This is going to change people's lives," said London-born retired defensive end Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. "They have a great opportunity. They are going to be seen not only by their new teams but by everyone who might imagine they can be NFL players. They will inspire people around the globe." Jenkins, 24, of Bath, started three US college seasons for Incarnate Word in gridiron-loving Texas. "It feels too good to be true," Jenkins said. "This is a chance to develop and become a player in the NFL." Jenkins even gets a "home" game on October 1 when the Saints play Miami at London's Wembley Stadium next season. Nzeocha, 24, played three years at the University of Wyoming, moving from tight end to linebacker, the same position his brother Mark plays for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Obada, 25, has been on NFL practice squads in Dallas, Kansas City and Atlanta the past two seasons.