‘Going for Greatness’: Kariem Al Soufi’s football journey from Germany

Mixed emotions filled the head of Tarleton State football senior offensive lineman when he stepped foot in the Paderborn Lippstadt Airport in 2019.

In a sense, Al Soufi was sad to leave his family and friends behind. In another, he knew what he had to do.

Surprised by 20 members of Al Soufi's support system, an emotional 6-foot-4-inch offensive lineman walked through the tsunami of admiration. Growing up in Germany throughout his childhood, Al Soufi was embarking on a new journey when he got on the airplane.

He was heading to the United States to play college football.

"I knew I was going to go for greatness," Al Soufi said. "I knew I had to leave in order to be successful."

Switching Gears
Al Soufi's father, Samer, enjoyed a successful professional basketball career in Syria and studied dentistry upon retirement from his playing days. Samer went on to become a dentist while Al Soufi's mother, Sabrin, assisted with the finances.

Sabrin's parents found work in Germany, motivating the Al Soufis to move over 1,700 miles and be introduced to a new culture.

Growing up in Germany, Al Soufi was raised bilingual and learned to speak fluently in both German and Arabic. Al Soufi became more versatile with his language skills when he learned English for the first time in third grade.

Kariem blossomed into a star soccer and tennis player. After spotting what looked like an "egg-shaped ball", Al Soufi's athletic interest switched gears.

Al Soufi caught sight of his friend's brown pigskin ball on a school day in 2012 and asked the boy what sport that the ball was for. Encouraging Al Soufi to try out for his American football team, his friend helped the future offensive lineman get hooked to the game.

Balancing soccer, tennis and football with his growing size, Al Soufi made the decision to focus primarily on football.

"Football was something I wanted to try out for a longer time," Al Soufi said. "I'm that type of guy that really never wants to give up. Whatever I try, I want to finish it."

Starting out as a defensive lineman, Al Soufi got moved to the offensive side of the ball because his team did not have enough offensive linemen on the team. While he ended up turning himself into a collegiate prospect, primarily blocking was not his favorite duty. Al Soufi admitted that he disliked being on the offensive line so much that he thought about quitting football.

Realizing that his athletic ability and size helped his team become successful on the field, Al Soufi found the determination to stick with the game.

"As I got older and more mature, I learned that an offensive lineman is selfless and it's not about yourself. It's about your teammates," Al Soufi said. "You do whatever you need to do for the team and for your teammates. That's the biggest part of why I love playing on the offensive line."

'A Culture Shock'
Al Soufi realized that football could lead to great things off the field in 2017. As the No. 1 ranked player in Germany, the Friedrich-Spee-Gesamtschule got connected to PPI Recruits, an International American Football placement program, and was invited to a tryout.

After a successful tryout in 2018, PPI Recruits founder Brandon Collier connected Al Soufi with a handful of college coaches seeking to strengthen their offensive line. Al Soufi signed with the University of Virginia and was set to begin his college career in 2019.

Everything became 'a culture shock' when Al Soufi stepped foot on U.S. soil: Different food, different people and different languages.

Al Soufi, however, embraced the changes and thrived in his new environment. Al Soufi not only strengthened his football skills in college, but also used his new home to bolster his English and became comfortable with it in school.

Following a three-season stint at Virginia, Al Soufi transferred to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. College coaches once again took notice of the First Team All-Conference offensive lineman, including Tarleton State's.

Getting a glimpse of Al Soufi in a road game in Kansas, Tarleton State assistant coach/offensive coordinator told the staff back in Stephenville to take a long look at the offensive lineman.

"(Coach Austin) picked his name up and we watched (Kariem's) tape. We thought, 'Man, he's a really good football player,'" offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator said.

While Al Soufi was talking with multiple schools, one stood out for its genuine approach. Al Soufi signed as a Texan on Football Signing Day of 2023, being the only international player on the roster.

"When I talked to Coach Austin, Coach Carey or Coach Whitten, I really noticed that they are different," Al Soufi said. "They tell you the truth and they're honest with you. That's really what made me want to come to Tarleton."

Providing a Path
The opportunity to play for Tarleton State football Football allowed Al Soufi's family to visit the United States for the first time on Oct. 7, 2023. Only getting to see his family one or two times per year max, Al Soufi's family visited Stephenville in an emotional reunion to watch their offensive lineman in action against Southern Utah.

With the friendly Texas culture making a strong impression on the family, Al Soufi's family visited Stephenville again for his college graduation seven months later.

"It was a great feeling," Al Soufi said. "I was really excited to show them the U.S. and show them everything I love here (in Stephenville) and everything I go to."

Al Soufi has made both his family and Tarleton State Football proud, strengthening the Texans' offensive line in his first season in 2023. He helped the Tarleton State offensive line lead the No. 1 rushing offense in the United Athletic Conference, with the Texans posting 201.7 rushing yards per game. That mark was the most rushing yards per game in the UAC and 12th most in the FCS.

Not only has Al Soufi's strength, skills, poise and demeanor powered the Texans' front unit, but his versatility has allowed Tarleton State's offensive line to have continued success.

"He can play every position on the O-Line," Carey said. "(The rotation) is not the best left tackle. It's the next best offensive lineman. He started here in a backup position and he's done a great job. He does it all and it's exciting because I know he can go in and play every position."

Al Soufi's leadership on the offensive line has allowed the Tarleton State defense to elevate its play in practice. The Texan defense has produced eight takeaways en route to helping Tarleton State start the season 2-1 heading into its United Athletic Conference opener against North Alabama.

"Kariem is a big body and a big dude who has great feet and great hands," junior defensive lineman said. "He is somebody you want to go up against every day to help your game get better. I love going up against Kariem."

Al Soufi represents his country with pride in FCS football, being one of just 10 players in FCS that is from Germany and one of three international football players in the United Athletic Conference. He is the only UAC player from Germany and he is just one of three German FCS players playing for a Texas School (two from Stephen F. Austin).

He left for the United States for greatness. Al Soufi will leave Tarleton State as an inspiration to German football players.

"The feeling of making Germany proud and being one of the first ones to make it from Germany to play college football is amazing," Al Soufi said. "That was definitely one of my goals. I wanted to show them that it is possible."

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