Search for next US college kicking star comes to Mayo
Pictured during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic partnership announcement at Aviva Stadium in Dublin are (from left) Darragh Leader of Leader Kicking with presenters of Leader Kicking Jim Flannagan and Tadhg Leader. Photo: Tyler Miller | Sportsfile
Search for next Gridiron star comes to Mayo Mayo is among a number of locations that will host trials as part of a hunt to find Irish kicking talent for US college football.
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has partnered with Leader Kicking to launch Ireland’s Kicking King: The Road to Ryan Field.
The initiative is part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic’s Much More Than A Game programme, aimed to grow the sport of American football across Ireland and create real opportunities for young local athletes.
The competition offers young Irish athletes aged 16 to 24 a direct pathway to a US Division 1 College Football scholarship and a $10,000 NIL contract.
Regional trials will be held at number of locations including Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Saturday, August 8 from 4pm to 5.30pm.
Following the regional trials, finalists will be put to the test in front of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic crowd during the half-time show, where the TCU Horned Frogs take on the North Carlina Tar Heels in the opening game of the college football season in Dublin.
The journey from grassroots Irish trials to the US will be captured by Ryan Sports Properties for a television documentary to be broadcast in the US, Ireland and the UK.
Coaches will use ball and foot tracking technology to assess players. The trials are free to attend and open to boys and girls aged 16 to 24. Every participant who takes part in a trial will receive a complimentary ticket to the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 29, along with discounted ticket options for family and friends.
hirty athletes from the open trials will be invited to Dublin during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic game week. Following an initial shootout outside the stadium to narrow the group to 20, these finalists will compete on the pitch at half-time of the Aer Lingus College Football game at the Aviva Stadium. The 10 athletes with the longest kicks will receive an 'ALCFC Golden Ticket' to the finals in Chicago at the newly developed Ryan Field, home to Northwestern Wildcats Football.
Those 10 finalists will train once a week in Dublin. They will also attend two weekend camps to learn about the US university system and hear from leaders in sport, business, arts and philanthropy. They will then fly to Chicago to compete at half-time during the Northwestern v Iowa game at Ryan Field. Ultimately, the finalist with the longest kick in Chicago will earn an opportunity for a Division 1 College Football scholarship and a $10,000 Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) contract for college.
While the competition ends in November, the support continues. All 10 finalists will receive six months of continued coaching from Leader Kicking, SAT academic prep, and recruitment assistance to help them secure a place at a US university.
To register for a trial, visit roadtoryanfield.com and follow @LeaderKicking and @CollegeFootballIreland on social media for updates.
