He is a three-star recruit from Texas, who ranks just outside the top-50 prospects in the state but has received 23 Division I offers, including from elite schools like Oregon, Florida State, USC, LSU, and Michigan.
Tobi Haastrup, the 17-year-old defensive end prospect from the UK, is making waves in American football after playing his first snap just months ago.
Previously unfamiliar with the game’s basics, such as the neutral and end zones, Haastrup has quickly become one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, with top American universities vying for his commitment.
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Haastrup, originally from Southeast London, moved to the U.S. as a child, living in Sacramento before settling in Houston, Texas.
While excelling in track as a sprinter and competing in shot-put at Mayde Creek High School, Haastrup caught the attention of new head coach Mike Arogbonlo, who recognized his potential and persuaded him to switch to football.
“The first thing I was told by the coaching staff was (how big it would be) if I could get this kid to come out that looks great, is fast — he’s a great athlete,” Arogbonlo told The Athletic’s Grace Raynor. “I said, ‘OK.’ And I went and found him, and we started talking.”
The pair quickly bonded over their Nigerian heritage. Arogbonlo took on the challenge of coaching Haastrup, explaining to The Athletic that he had to simplify the game to its basics to help him adjust.
“It just kind of takes you back to the basics,” Arogbonlo said. “There were a lot of questions that he had: ‘What’s a first down? Where’s the down marker? What’s a defensive end, and what’s the difference between a defensive end and an outside linebacker?’ He didn’t know any of those things. But he’s been like a sponge, just soaking in whatever he can.”
Haastrup stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds, making him an impressive physical specimen. What’s even more remarkable is his speed—he runs the 100-meter dash in 10.7 seconds, an extraordinary feat for someone of his size.
His athleticism is evident from the very first play on his game tape. Despite coaches simplifying the game and drawing parallels to track, Haastrup faced some challenges in his first football game, lining up offsides three times due to his focus on pass rushing.
However, he still managed to record an impressive five sacks in that game. Despite his inexperience, within a week of his high school football debut, he received scholarship offers from eleven schools.
Haastrup initially received scholarship offers from Texas-El Paso (UTEP) and Texas-San Antonio (UTSA). These were soon followed by offers from SEC powerhouses Ole Miss and LSU, among others, bringing his total to 23 scholarship offers.
He has made official visits to Boston College, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Texas Tech, and USC, with upcoming visits to Michigan and Oregon scheduled before the end of the month.
He has also received offers from TCU, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, where his older sister studies neuroscience.
While football may be his true calling, Haastrup values academics, expressing his aspiration to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.
He told The Athletic that his decision will heavily depend on development opportunities, given his newness to the sport, stating, “It’s definitely going to be one of the most important decisions I make in my life.”
His coach, Arogbonlo, recognizes the immense potential that Haastrup possesses and believes in the significant impact he can make.
“(Whoever gets him), they’re getting a kid with a lot of upside,” Arogbonlo told The Athletic. “I suspect with more time, with nutrition, with the training table on the next level, with the coaching staffs, I just expect a huge growth.
“I really believe he’s a Sunday [NFL] player. That’s the kind of kid I think he is. If God could make a football player, he made Tobi.”
