The Stuttgart Surge is bringing back one of the deadliest wide receiver trios the ELF has ever seen. Louis Geyer, Yannick Mayr, and Darrell Stewart Jr. will all return to the 2023 runner-up.

The hometown hero is coming back

Hometown hero and all-time homegrown great Louis Geyer, who grew up near Stuttgart, put together the best season of his ELF career in 2023. Last year, the 22-year-old, who leads all homegrown pass catchers in career receiving yards (2000) and touchdowns (19, tied with Harlan Kwofie), caught 47 passes for 863 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 regular season games. His performances earned the 2021 Rookie of the Year a nomination for the Homegrown of the Year Award and a spot on the All-Star team.

National team star for the Surge

Austrian star Yannick Mayr also extended his contract with the Swabian team. The 27-year-old joined the Surge after spending an injury-riddled 2022 season with the Raiders and instantly had an impact. The Salzburg native caught 50 passes for 770 yards and five touchdowns in eleven regular season games, which, like Geyer, made him a Second-Team All-Star.

College standout and NFL player returning

Third but certainly not least is Darrell Stewart Jr.. The Michigan State all-time great was one of the biggest stars in the ELF this season. After ending his collegiate career with 150 receptions (3^rd all-time in Spartans history), 1640 yards, and seven touchdowns, the three-year starter had stints with the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers before ending up in Europe, where he won the German Bowl with the Dresden Monarchs. He signed with the USFL’s New Jersey Generals in 2023 but returned to Europe after suffering an injury and joined the Surge four games into the regular season.

 While 59 receptions, 754 yards, and five touchdowns in eight regular season games are certainly not bad, Stewart Jr. put on a historic post-season performance. In just three games, the former NFL receiver caught 32 passes for 545 yards and six touchdowns, doubling the stats of every other receiver in playoff history.

With three of the most dynamic difference makers in the ELF back, can the Surge make another run at the title?