What This Story Is About
- Luca Wolf’s unique journey from Austria to Tennessee
Why It Matters
- Wolf is looking to become the first Austrian-born tight end in NFL history
What Happens Next
- Wolf competes for playing time alongside returners Ethan Davis and DaSaahn Brame
For Context
- Since 1987, just one Austrian-born player has reached the NFL
Catch Up
- Tennessee opens fall camp with excitement and a quarterback battle on its hands
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Throughout the history of the NFL, only seven Austrian-born players have ever made it to the league. None of them have done it at the tight end position.
Tennessee freshman Luca Wolf is looking to become the first.
“I take pride where I come from,” Wolf said. “I take pride the way I was raised, the culture I was around. I’m just really blessed and happy to represent my country.”
Wolf spent time in Baltimore in his early years of high school playing basketball, when football was introduced into his life. After a successful tryout, Wolf ended his prep career at NFL Academy in London, England.
Despite his lack of traditional football experience, Wolf has already impressed members of the Tennessee coaching staff, including tight ends coach Alec Abeln.
“He’s so mature, so smart,” Abeln said. “Physically, he’s big, strong, able to survive in there right now.”
Wolf’s physical readiness stems from a diverse athletic background. He is a former member of the Austrian National Basketball Team, but basketball is far from the only sport he played growing up in Europe.
“I swam in middle school. I played volleyball, did track and field, did boxing as well,” Wolf said. “I’ve always been very athletic, and I was never scared of a new challenge.”
That new challenge involves coming to the states to compete for playing time in a tight end room that features returners Ethan Davis and DaSaahn Brame, who have a combined 33 games of playing experience under their belts.
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