Interview: IMG Academy Director of Football Kyle Brey Talks NFL Academy and More

While it’s well known that IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida has spent nearly a decade and a half developing NFL talent in the United States, the elite boarding school is now extending its impact overseas.

IMG has been instrumental in helping the NFL Academy evolve in both the United Kingdom and, more recently, Australia. According to its website, the NFL Academy is an “elite football development program for talented student athletes based in the U.K., delivered in partnership with Loughborough College and Loughborough University.”

Through the IMG/NFL Academy partnership, NFL Academy players have the opportunity to train at IMG’s Florida campus, giving them access to world-class facilities and a structured environment comparable to a U.S. high school or university. The program draws on IMG Academy’s expertise in athletic development and its experience hosting international teams to further enhance its training.

Last year, NFL Academy competed against several powerhouse American high school football programs regularly featured in the High School Football America 300. The Academy faced defeats against No. 25 De La Salle (California) 31-9, No. 82 Massillon (Washington) 30-25, and No. 128 Edgewater (Florida) 51-45. However, in a game played in Germany in November, NFL Academy defeated IMG’s White team 40-24.

Since its founding, more than 40 NFL Academy alumni have earned college football scholarships in the U.S., with over 30 students set to play college football in the 2024 season—19 of whom will be competing at the Division I level.

Below, IMG’s Director of Football joins HSFA’s Jeff Fisher to discuss the NFL Academy, as well as IMG’s three American high school teams, including the national team that enters the season ranked No. 5 in the HSFA 300 national rankings.