AFTER just one year in the sport of American football, wide receiver Ben Weller-Evans has secured himself a place at the most prestigious academy in the country.

The 17-year-old from Hatch Warren will move to Bristol in the autumn and as well as playing American football he will continue the studies he began at Basingstoke College of Technology last year.

North American sports are a real passion for his family as Ben’s older brother, Dan, is an ex-Basingstoke Bison netminder.

Ben joined the Swindon Storm American Football junior team last season and helped them to the final of the Bristol Academy Community League, where they lost to defending champions East Bristol Gators 22-6.

Playing in the Bristol Academy League was where the teenager was spotted and he also played in the league’s all stars game.

His performances over the season earned him a place at the academy in team Pride, run alongside other sports at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

This is another stepping stone towards the chance to then play in the college system in America and one day maybe in the NFL for the team he follows, the New England Patriots.

Weller-Evans is very excited about suiting up for the Bristol Academy Pride next year and said: “I have only been playing the sport for a year so I have a lot more to learn and I am really looking forward to this.”

The Pride play in the Universities League and will also have a couple of tours of Europe. Last season they went to Germany and Holland to face clubs and junior international teams.

The teenage wide receiver added: “I hope in maybe two or three years I will be able to move to America, as other players from Bristol have already made this step.

“I enjoy being a wide receiver. Being 6ft 5in, I am always taller than the players against me, but if the coaches at the academy find I am better suited to another position then I am ready to make the change.”