Aaron Donkor
Aaron Donkor (born March 21, 1995) is a German professional American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Arkansas State and was signed by the Seahawks as part of the International Player Pathway Program in 2021.
| No. 43 – Seattle Seahawks | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 21, 1995 Aachen, Germany |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: | NMMI (2016–2018) Arkansas State (2019–2020) |
| Undrafted: | 2021 |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
Early life and education
Donkor was born on March 21, 1995, in Aachen, Germany. He grew up in Göttingen playing basketball, before later returning to Aachen to play professional football in 2016. In 2017, Donkor moved to United States to play college football. He spent his first two years at New Mexico Military Institute, appearing in eight games as a freshman.[1] As a sophomore, Donkor recorded 27 tackles, despite playing just four games. He also made 11.5 sacks that season.[1] He transferred to the Division I Arkansas State University as a junior in 2019. Playing in six games, Donkor made 25 tackles.[2] The 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Professional career
Germany
As a 21-year old in 2016, Donkor played professional football in Germany's top league for the Düsseldorf Panther. He led the German Football League that year with 14 sacks, 74 tackles, and 20-for-loss.[2]
United States
In 2021, Donkor was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as part of the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).[3][4] Though 26 years old as a National Football League (NFL) rookie, he "made a strong impression" in training camp.[5] He was placed on the international/exempt list to start the season. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Seahawks on January 10, 2022.[6]
References
- "Aaron Donkor - 2019 - Football". Arkansas State University.
- "Impressive numbers earn Germany's Aaron Donker a spot in the NFL International Player Pathway Program". American Football International. January 2, 2021.
- Hudgison, Chris. "Former Red Wolf Aaron Donkor participating in Seahawks minicamp". www.kait8.com.
- "Could international player Aaron Donkor be more than a project for the Seahawks?". The Seattle Times. May 18, 2021.
- "German LB Aaron Donkor Making Strong First Impression With Seahawks". www.seahawks.com.
- Boyle, John (January 10, 2022). "Seahawks Sign 12 To 2022 Future Contracts". Seahawks.com.
Further reading
- Smith, Corbin K. (May 15, 2021). "Brimming With Enthusiasm, Aaron Donkor Quickly Finding His Way With Seahawks". Sports Illustrated.