German-born Mark Nzeocha (pictured in middle tackling the red-jerseyed player) has been drafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the Dallas Cowboys.

Nzeocha, 25, is a native of Neusitz and grew up in the small Bavarian village situated close to the hometown of German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki (Würzburg).

Nzeocha becomes the fifth German to be drafted into the NFL after Sebastian Vollmer, Markus Kuhn, Björn Werner and Kasim Edebali.

The linebacker was the 236th overall pick in the NFL's annual draft of college players. He spent four years at Wyoming University where he majored in finance, earning a 3.41 grade point average. On the field, he averaged over nine tackles per game before tearing his ACL in 2014.

The 25-year-old has already represented the German national team. However, he will have to make the 53-man roster for the Cowboys if he is to play in the NFL.

German-born Sebastian Vollmer was part of the New England Patriots' Super Bowl winning team earlier this year.