College Football: Breaking down top international stars from 2020
By John Scimeca
Several international players played starring roles for their teams during the 2020 FBS college football season, including Alabama’s John Metchie III.
Foreign players on 2020 FBS college football rosters came from a variety of continents and locations, ranging from China and Taiwan to England, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany, not to mention Canada and Australia. American Samoa was included solely because it’s not among the 50 U.S. states (although we love our unincorporated territories, too). Here are a few standout players, plus a few more names that are poised for future stardom:
John Metchie III – WR, Alabama (Canada)
Born in Taiwan, John Metchie III lived in Ghana before moving to Canada at age six. He began playing football as a youngster in Brampton, Ontario. He later moved to the United States to attend high school in Maryland and New Jersey before signing with Alabama.
Metchie finished the 2020 season with 55 receptions for 916 yards and two touchdowns, including eight catches for 81 yards in the national title victory against Ohio State. As a member of the vaunted title-winning Crimson Tide offense, Metchie often helped stretched the field and helped picked up the slack with the departure of injured star wideout Jaylen Waddle from October.
On several occasions, such as against Texas A&M, Tennessee, and Florida, Metchie led the team in receiving yardage — no small feat considering that his teammate, DeVonta Smith, would go on to become the first wide receiver in nearly three decades to win the Heisman Trophy.
Metchie, a sophomore from 2020, figures to play a leading role in Alabama’s 2021 campaign to repeat as college football national champions.