Roje Stona: NFL dream for Olympic discus champion
Stoner said he fell in love with American football after being invited to a game while a student at Clemson University in South Carolina, whose teams won national championships in 2017 and 2019.
He said: “When I got to the stadium, my first reaction was ‘There’s a lot of people here’. I’m talking about the crowds you see at the Olympics or the World Championships – they see it at a college football game Such a crowd.”
“I watched more and more games, became more and more interested, and then started watching the NFL. Then my goals changed and I thought, ‘I might have an opportunity to do this. I should give it a try.’
dreamer? Childish? Maybe.
However, Stoner describes himself as a “visual learner,” able to perfect a technique by watching and repeating the process.
After being invited to work out with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints last spring, Stoner decided to attend all practices. It was an unusual move, but having never played the sport before, he wasn’t sure if he was best suited offensively or defensively.
These sessions were also the first time he wore American football gear, including a helmet.
“Before that, I had only looked at the sport from a fan’s perspective, but then I walked into these buildings and the coaches were talking about specific games to play,” he said. “Learning a new language is weird.”
Coaches believe Stoner is best suited as tight end, catching passes, although his preferred position and the one he wants to pursue is defensive end, tasked with putting pressure on the quarterback.
“I’m kind of like a sponge,” he added. “Go behind the scenes and you see how much strategy goes into the game, but I was curious.
“It’s always nerve-wracking doing anything for the first time, but I’ve competed at a high level my whole life, so I pick it up quickly. I’m very coachable.”
What Stoner lacks in experience on the football field, he makes up for with athleticism and physicality — at 6-foot-6, he’s just shy of No. 19 overall. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein highlighted Stoner’s “excellent size, length, muscularity and explosiveness.”
However, notes on his weaknesses note that he is new to the sport and that he exhibits “some stiffness in lateral movement.”
Stoner said he has no illusions about how much work it might take to put together an NFL roster, let alone play.
He knew hundreds of people had tried, but few had succeeded, including athletes from backgrounds closer to American football.
For now, the idea of defending his title at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has been put on hold.
A competitive fire burns within him, often fueled by the reactions of those who doubt his ability to achieve his goals.
“I think it’s 100 percent possible,” he said. “If you don’t believe it’s going to happen, it probably won’t happen.
“I understand the work I have to put in. Discus takes time. Soccer takes some time. I’ve seen some comments, but I’m not going to limit myself.”
