PLAYER PROFILE: LEON ANTONI

This off-season we will be catching up with past and present players to find out about their transition to American football with the Knights. This week we catch up with Leon Antoni who won a D2 Championship with the Knights and now plays for Dickinson College in the USA.

Leon excelled for the Knights before moving stateside.

How has the transition from playing with the Northants Knights in the UK to representing Dickinson College in America impacted your game?

My game has been taken to the next level simply due to the increased exposure to football here in the US. We meet for practices or lifts at a minimum of 4 times a week, and it's easy to get some quick work in with teammates due to everyone living on the same campus and utilizing the same facilities. So, football has become a bigger part of my daily routine.

Can you share some key differences you’ve noticed between the American football scenes in the UK and the United States?

The engagement of the community in the sport is much greater here in America, as football is much bigger and also integrated into high school and college. So, it is different from the UK in that we’ll have a large crowd of peers who may not necessarily be into football but are there to contribute to the school spirit by cheering us on for home games. This integration of football into the school also allows the team to live and train close to, which as I stated previously is good for team spirit and being able to challenge each other to become better players.

What aspects of your experience with the Northants Knights do you think have contributed to your growth as a player at Dickinson College?

I think just that mentality to work throughout practice. We had a great group of guys when I was at Knights and we pushed to go hard in practice, which I’ve then carried over here and received praise for. So, I think just that general work ethic and drive from the Knights has been great for my continued progress here at Dickinson.

Are there specific playing styles or strategies you’ve had to adapt to in American football that differ from your time in the UK?

I feel like the game is a lot faster here in the US, and there is a much greater emphasis on really getting the technique down. Also, I feel like the mental workload is a big part, and your knowledge of the game must be greater than knowing your assignment for a specific play. I’ve had to really study plays and go through and grasp the meaning behind why we run certain plays when we do and what we’re trying to accomplish.

How has the cultural shift influenced your approach to teamwork and camaraderie within the team, considering the different football cultures in the UK and the US?

The family aspect of football is very prominent here in the States, where the guys from the team always eat, study, and hang out with each other and build those relationships on and off the field. During fall camp it’s only us football guys here on campus, and it's an intense two weeks of just living breathing football with your teammates for 5-6 hours of lifting, meetings, and practice and it helps enhance that feeling of brotherhood with your teammates.

Are there any memorable moments or lessons from your time with the Northants Knights that continue to influence your game at Dickinson College?

Nothing beats the hype from the sideline, and I remember partially losing my voice on every game I played as a Knight, I feel like I’m carrying that over here to hype up the team even when the offense isn’t on the field. Furthermore, I just think that the desire to improve and challenge myself and my teammates in practice has carried over here.

In what ways do you think your international experience has shaped your perspective on American football, both on and off the field?

I think my international perspective has helped me find even more aspects of football to love. Dickinson is pretty unique in that almost a third of our roster is made up of international players, and I can appreciate how amazing it is that American football can bring together people from many nationalities through sport. I also think that the international perspective has allowed me to soak up even more of the culture around football as I want to maximize my time here in the States. It's also always nice to have people that can relate to one's own experiences.

Can you share some insights into the level of support and enthusiasm for American football in the UK compared to your experience in the United States?

I think there is some great enthusiasm for football in the UK, and I can appreciate that despite being a relatively new sport in the UK there is great and growing interest in it. However, I have never experienced the level of community that surrounds football here in the US, as we would have tailgates travel along with us on away games and dedicated fans at every away game, despite in some cases being across state lines, which is a special feeling.

How do you balance the demands of academics at Dickinson College with your commitment to football, and how does it compare to your experience in the UK?

As football is part of college, I feel like the emphasis on school is always there, from coaches and players alike highlighting the importance of being a student-athlete and not an athlete student. However, it is hard to keep a balance sometimes simply due to the high demands of football, but I feel like once you get used to college it's not that bad. In the UK I didn’t feel like there was that same push for academic success from football itself, which is understandable as it is detached from school.

Looking ahead, are there specific goals or aspirations you have for your football career, considering the diverse experiences you’ve gained from playing in both the UK and the United States?

My goal right now is to see the field more often and prove to the coaches here that I can be a valuable part of the team on the field on Saturdays. I’m excited to come back home to Europe and see my family, recuperate, and prepare myself for the offseason to come and continue to push myself.

We will continue to highlight young athletes this off-season.