American football is one of the most beloved sports in the United States, yet in other parts of the world it is not really played. It may not be as popular, but there are still small leagues that give people the opportunity to play.

Marc Anthony Hor and Ammon Green came to Diablo Valley College from other parts of the world to play football.

Hor, 21, is a defensive tackle from Mannheim, Germany and Green, 26, is a fullback from Auckland, New Zealand. They both played football prior to coming to the U.S. but Hor feels as though it is very different playing here.

“Technique-wise, it’s on a whole other level,” Hor said. “It’s like way harder.”

He gained interest in the game by playing flag football and when he was 15, he began playing tackle football. Unlike many people growing up in Europe, Hor said he had never really played soccer except for in his free time.

The fact that people with different body types are able to play football appealed to him. “Big guys can play, small guys can play,” Hor said. “I’ve always been a big guy, so yeah, soccer wasn’t really an option for me.”

This is Hor’s first season at DVC and he hopes to eventually transfer and play at a four-year university.

Green began playing football in between rugby seasons.

He considers there to be quite a big difference between the two sports.

“You do have to be a lot more disciplined (in football),” Green said. “If you try to make a big play you might put the other guys short and hurt the team, whereas in rugby you can make a big play and make up for it.”

If the opportunity arises to play at a four-year university he would gladly take it, but his goal for now is simple.

“To hit someone as hard as I can,” Green said. “That’s my primary goal.”

Head coach Mike Darr has had players from different countries in the past and said sometimes there are a few barriers when bringing international students into the program.

In the case of Hor and Green he feels they have been fantastic and that the two of them have picked up everything very quickly.

“They haven’t led us to make a tremendous amount of adjustments for them,” Darr said. “They’re both mature, focused young men.”