The Philadelphia Eagles took a significant gamble with their final selection in the NFL Draft, choosing a defensive tackle who has never played a down of organized football. With the No. 251 overall pick, the seventh-to-last selection in the Draft, the Eagles opted for Nigerian prospect Uar Bernard, whose astonishing lack of experience has raised eyebrows across the league.
Bernard's Unprecedented Journey
Bernard, 21, was recruited through the NFL's International Player Pathway program after attending several football camps in Nigeria. Standing at 6ft 4in and weighing 306lbs, he grew up in a small village in the African country and went viral in recent weeks as he intensified his preparations for the Draft. Fans were left stunned by his remarkable physical traits, including 11-inch hands and just six percent body fat, alongside a 39-inch vertical jump.
Despite these impressive attributes, Bernard has never played a game of organized football, making the Eagles' selection a high-risk move. 'It's a dream come true for me because I've worked hard for this,' Bernard said on Saturday. 'I've not played football before, but I've gone through some drills that made me believe that I'm going to get better every day. I appreciate God, I thank God for everything. I thank God for life. I thank God for the opportunities given to me to be drafted by the Eagles.'
Eagles' Confidence in Raw Talent
Bernard celebrated on stage after being selected by the Eagles, having traveled to Pittsburgh for the Draft. Philadelphia General Manager Howie Roseman revealed that the team had spent considerable time evaluating the prospect. 'Just for us, it was a passion project,' Roseman told the Philadelphia Inquirer. 'We spend a lot of time talking about "unusual." It's certainly unusual with that guy.'
Bernard began training with coach Jordan Luallen in mid-January, initially weighing 295lbs with 11 percent body fat, a 32-inch vertical jump, and a 9-foot-4-inch broad jump. At the NFL's HBCU showcase this month, he transformed to 306lbs and six percent body fat, with a 39-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-10-inch broad jump. He also ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash. His broad jump of 10 feet 10 inches was 14 inches longer than any other defensive tackle at the NFL combine this year.
Coaches Praise Explosiveness
Luallen, speaking to The Athletic, said: 'Hands down, he is the most explosive athlete I've ever seen in my life. He broad jumped 10-10, and it was effortless. At 306 pounds. I've never seen anything like it.' Quarterback coach George Whitfield added: 'The numbers don't even do him justice.'
Bernard will aim to become the greatest success story from the International Player Pathway program since his new Eagles teammate Jordan Mailata. The Australian offensive tackle, also a seventh-round pick in 2018, earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024.
