There aren’t many football players in Wuppertal, Germany, at least not the American kind. In fact, there may just be one: Ohio running back Duncan Brune.
Brune's hometown of Wuppertal has around 400,000 residents, most of whom play soccer, hockey and even bobsled. Brune, however, is different from most students in Germany.
“I think we have five schools in this one city where I live,” Brune said. “I think I was the only one playing football.”
When Brune was about 12 years old, a friend invited him to hang out at football practice — not German football, but American football. As soon as practice ended, Brune raced home to tell his mom he wanted to be a football player. He had found his new passion.
There weren’t many options for organized football leagues around Wuppertal. The nearest place Brune could play competitions up to his level was a 40-minute drive to the city of Cologne.
The distance or commitment wasn’t a problem for Brune and his family, who have always been invested in sports. Brune grew up in a household filled to the ceiling with sports; his mom, Simone Osygus, is a four-time Olympic swimmer for Germany.
“(Sports) were a daily thing,” Brune said. “I remember when we had Christmas my mother used to say you have to do push-ups before you can open gifts. I grew up in the swimming facility in Germany because my mother would take me there. I had to practice there because I was there every day.”
Growing up, Brune participated in sports like hockey, swimming, track and field, bobsledding and football. His incredibly diverse athletic ability quickly drew the attention of other German football players.
One of them, Fabian Hoeller, told Brune at a young age that he had potential and should consider a career playing in America. From that conversation on, Brune’s goal was to find his way onto a Division I football team.
After several strong years with the Cologne Crocodiles, Brune quickly became one of the top prospects in Germany. During his recruiting process, Brune received offers from several schools, including Toledo, Middle Tennessee State and Yale.
A conversation with now-teammate Sam Ehret is what got Brune interested in Ohio.
“Almost two years ago, I met him and his dad,” Brune said. “He said (Ohio) was the best visit he did so far. He said, ‘You have to come here, take your official visit, and just look at it, it’s awesome.’”
Ehret went to high school in America but has family in Germany, which is how he and Brune became acquainted. The two have been in contact ever since, and are now roommates in Athens.
Ehret was right about Athens; Brune has loved it since he stepped on campus.
“I really enjoy walking around, just looking at things,” Brune said. “At least once a week, I just walk around campus looking at nature and enjoying everything.”
Ehret isn’t Brune’s only European connection in the NCAA. Several of Brune’s teammates from Cologne have found themselves on DI rosters nationwide.
There may not be many right now, but Brune is a firm believer that more Germans will soon get into American football and will, in turn, begin to flood collegiate and professional rosters.
