At just 21 years old, the Rouennais Malik Aliane continues to take the steps which, he dreams of, could allow him to become in a few years a professional American football player in the prestigious NFL (National Football League), a rarity for a Frenchman.
“It’s still a long way off, that’s for sure.
But I admit that today it has become a goal!
», assures with conviction the beautiful baby of 1m90 and 145 kg, passed by the Leopards of Rouen (Seine-Maritime), his training club with whom he maintains excellent relations.
“Last summer I returned to France and the club allowed me to refine my preparation in its facilities.
And I, in return, gave a helping hand to the coaches, with the young people, but also the first team.
Here, it remains special, because this is where I took my first steps in this sport.”
It must be said that Malik is a phenomenon of precocity: upgraded with the Leopards after a few months while he was a high school student, he went so far as to play with the senior French team at just 19 years old before leaving a season in Nice to prepare for an adventure on the other side of the Atlantic.
He was then recruited in 2022 by a Junior college (the equivalent of a second university division), the New Mexico Military Institute.
After a first season hampered by administrative problems, the player performed well the following season in the “center” position – the one who transmits the ball to the quarterback and protects him on the offensive line – where he was repositioned.
A winning bet since he will be named to the standard team of his conference at the end of 2023, while being selected among the best university players in his category at the national level.
Three decisive years
“It gave me visibility and I was contacted by quite a few leading universities to join their team,” enthuses the young man.
“When it's like that, we're invited to visit campuses, they pay for the plane, the hotel, the meals... It's pretty crazy.
I went to Boston, New York, Texas…”.
In the end, he sets his sights on the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque at the start of 2024, which plays in Division 1 of the NCCA, the American university league.
“It’s a program with ambitions, a new coach –
the renowned Bronco Mendenhall
–, a new organization.
And I have three years of eligibility left to gain experience and show what I’m capable of.”
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For now, the young man is already actively preparing for the Lobos' next season which will begin at the end of August, with a final regular season match scheduled for November... in Hawaii!
A program that will not be easy since Malik is determined not to neglect the study side of his career.
“I have good grades and I am aware of how lucky I am to be able to acquire a university education.
Besides, I think this worked in my favor on the recruiters' side.
They knew that academically, they didn’t have to worry.”
A full head in a well-shaped body... A good combination to go far.