Top signings of the week: Less than one month to go!
Alex Malchow
We are only one month away from the highly anticipated start to season five in the European League of Football. Let’s take a look at some of the moves teams made this week as pre-season is upon us.
Vienna Vikings add legendary coach Norm Chow
The Vienna Vikings have added former NFL and NCAA coach Norm Chow as an offensive analyst. Chow was the head coach of the Helvetic Guards in 2023 for their first season. Chow coached several NFL players during his time as the offensive coordinator of USC, including Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer.
Munich Ravens bring back ELF veterans
The Munich Ravens made two big signings this week including american wide receiver Malik Stanley. Stanley caught 36 passes for 776 yards and ten touchdowns coming to Munich mid-season. Overall in his ELF career, Stanley ranks 4th all time with 2750 receiving yards and second with 31 career receiving touchdowns in only 32 career games.
Veteran defensive lineman Hiswill Awuah will also return to Munich. The 24-year old nose tackle played a key role in the middle of Munich’s defense.
Enthroners sign a new American defensive lineman
The European League of Football season hasn’t started yet, but the Fehérvár Enthroners have already made changes to their roster. They have signed American defensive lineman Michael Badejo, who will replace Emmit Gooden.Badejo is D1 played college football at SMU (Southern Methodist University) and Texas Southern University. After college, he had workouts with NFL teams like the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Seattle Seahawks. Last season he was a impact player for the Dresden Monarchs in the German Football League.
Surge bring back familiar faces
The Stuttgart Surge are bringing veteran Italian Guiseppe Della Vecchia. The former GFL All-Star and Italian Bowl Champion spent the 2023 season with the Surge. Now the talented cornerback returns to southwest Germany and head coach Jordan Neumann.
Kicker Timo Bronn also returns, as the Surge’s kicker Lenny Kreig has joined the NFL IPP and was recently signed by the Atlanta Falcons. Bronn made 2 of 3 kicks back in 2021 for the Surge with a long of 41. The Surge also brought back receivers Emil Rabin, Leonell Fritzen, and Timon Stüwe.
Homegrowns stay in Paris
The Paris Musketeers have signed ELF veterans Kevin Fortes, Mamadou Sy, and Florian Larose. Fortes a homegrown french defensive back has played for several teams in the ELF including the Hamburg Sea Devils, Madrid Bravos, and Helvetic Mercenaires. Kevin Fortes was a First Team All-Star back in 2022 while playing in Hamburg. Last season still recorded 60 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery. He joins a defense that will no doubt be coached hard by former NFL head coach Jack Del Rio. Sy is a veteran defensive tackle who made several impractful plays last season. On offense Larose returns after a solid season putting up 289 yards and 3 scores as a receiver.
Madrid Bravos sign thier final A import
The Madrid Bravos have signed former Eastern Carolina defensive back Michael Witherspoon. The former D1 player made 44 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 5 pass deflections in his college career. Since then Witherspoon has been active in the arena football scene playing for the Ozark Lunkers, Tulsa Oilers, and Northern Arizona Wranglers. The 1.85 cm cornerback spent training camp with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL in 2022. Witherspoon joins Dy'Vonne Inyang in the Bravos seconday as thier two A import defensive players.
Raiders add Belgian DL Miche Vandekerkhof
With less than a month to go before the start of the season, the Raiders Tirol have added another import player to their roster. Miche Vandekerkhof will now strengthen the defensive line of the Austrian franchise.
Wroclaw adds another veteran DL
The Wroclaw Panthers have made a strong move to boost their defense by signing Latvian defensive lineman Laurynas Orlovicius. Orlovicius is a well-known name in the ELF, having played for the Fehérvár Enthroners and the Raiders Tirol.