GOLD Coast has plundered the US for its latest recruit.

Former NFL triallist Brandon Kaufman has joined the Suns as an international scholarship player, becoming the club's first recruit from overseas.

The 25-year-old spent the 2013 NFL pre-season with the Buffalo Bills but didn't feature in a regular-season match for the club.

Following his release by the Bills, Kaufman was spotted by Suns recruiters who were impressed by his athleticism and handling skills as a wide receiver.

The Denver, Colorado product stands at 196cm and has shed 9kg during enhanced endurance training to tip the scales at 96kg.

Kaufman has also clocked a 10.8sec 100m sprint.

The American will be treading a path similar to that taken by Essendon recruit Dwayne Armstrong, who played a handful of reserves games for the Bombers in the early 1990s after being spotted by coach Kevin Sheedy.

"I picked up a Sherrin for the first time in November and, since then, there hasn't been a day where I haven't learnt something new," Kaufman said.

"I'm beginning to feel more comfortable with the Sherrin in my hands and I've still got time to keep getting better and better."

Kaufman will be placed on a development program under the tutelage of mentors Aaron Rogers and Jamason Daniels, and will start out playing for the Labrador Tigers in the Queensland AFL, before joining the Suns' reserves.