Efe Obada, a British NFL player, believes Christian Wade's American football dreams are about to become attainable.
Wade, who is 30 years old, quit rugby to follow an NFL career. He has been with the Buffalo Bills training since 2019.
While he is not yet eligible to play in an NFL match, his pre-season this year is his best chance of being on the Bills' roster.
Obada said, “He has taken the time and worked on his craft, and honestly, he will shock the world in this year.”
Wade is already making a huge impact on the NFL landscape. He ran 65 yards for his first touchdown in American football in 2019's pre-season.
What happened to the ex-WASPS and England winger? How did he become a running back and how do we proceed now?
Wade is still trying to get the dream debut
Wade was part of three pre-season 2019 games, but Wade will be ‘cutdown day.' missed out on Buffalo's main 53-man roster.
Wade was unable to play in 2019, but he would still continue learning the intricacies and the Bills' practice team.
He was a good friend. joined Buffalo in April 2019,Wade was allowed to join the practice team on a 2-year basis. The pandemic ended Wade's hopes of being selected in 2020.
His off-season program was badly disrupted. There were also no games in the pre-season to show his progress.
Wade received an exemption in April from the Bills. This gave him ample time to prepare for his off-season as well as pre-season. Although Wade didn't play in Friday's pre-season match, Buffalo has two more games before they name their 2021 team on August 31.
Wade stated that while the 2020 offseason was not exactly like it, there were many similarities.
I just needed to treat it as any other challenge in my professional life. “I took it one day at time and kept track of all the information I needed. I used this as an opportunity for me to learn from others.
It's helped me to be in the best position possible for next year. We're back from preseason, and we had an extensive training camp. Everything looks good.
Obada makes Obada the ‘British Bills.'
Wade grew up in Buckinghamshire but has now settled in the upstate New York.
American model Lisa Ramos is his girlfriend. She happens to be Josh Allen's close friend, and he has spent a lot of time with him.
A weekly podcast on Bills YouTube has been hosted by him. Wade interviews team-mates, and sometimes even team owners.
Wade, 5ft 7in tall, has now formed a double act with Obada (6ft 6in), who joined the Bills in a one-year contract from the Carolina Panthers.
Obada said Wade was “like a local celebrity in Buffalo” and that the Nigerian-born Londoner is also becoming a popular figure.
He laughed at the 29-year-old defensive lineman.
Christian is a beloved member of the family. He makes everyone laugh when he is around them. His energy and bubbliness make him so happy.
However, you also see his hard work and determination out on the fields. He's there for a reason.
He is a great friend and we are able to have that type of relationship. You have to credit him where credit is due.
Obada hopes to continue building on the best season so far
Abandoned on the streets of London aged 10,Obada went on to work in a manufacturing plant while he was playing for the London Warriors.
He was able to do it with the support of the NFL's International Player Pathway programme (IPP).
Obada, which is considered the greatest success of the scheme, was created to offer a pathway to the NFL for international players.
Wade had just joined the programme when he became the first graduate to join the 53-man roster.
Wade is now facing Obada's emotional rollercoaster of cutting down day.
Obada, who had tweeted his appreciation to Carolina for keeping him in the squad, was immediately cut by Panthers. Obada would later be signed a day later.
His words were, “It did place a chip on mine shoulder.” But I saw it as an opportunity for me to improve on my weaknesses. It has made me a stronger player.
You have to be yourself in the NFL every day. Not just for being released, but also to make it to another team. Every day, there's someone trying to get your job done.
Obada had his best season to date, with record-breaking sacks against legends quarterbacks Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers in 2020.
After seeing the flood of offers, he decided to go with Buffalo as he was reunited in Buffalo with his friend from 2018.
An intensive camp at Florida’s IMG academy is a crucial part of the IPP Programme. It allows you to link up with an NFL Team before Wade makes his NFL transition.
Wade said, “It is amazing.” I knew Efe since before the trip. Three years later, we are on the same team.”
The team was one win away from winning the Super Bowl last season, and won their division for the first-time in 25 years. They've now signed quarterback Josh Allen to an extension of six years and are expected to make it all the way.
“And I also have this guy [nodding towards Wade]Obada stated that this makes Obada's day brighter and lighter.
