A new stadium, new faces in key positions on offense and defense and a new coaching staff: The Cologne Centurions underwent a large (though necessary) rebuild in the offseason.

First and foremost, they had to find a new playing field due to the soccer european championship in Germany. Their first four home games will now be played in the „Tivoli“ in Aachen, with a capacity of up to 30.000 people. Thousands of tickets have already been sold - and for good reason.

Connor Wedington is joining the Centurions in 2024. © Frederik Löwer

Wide Receiver Wedington: „An organization destined to rise“

After a disappointing campaign in the last ELF-season, in which the Centurions only managed to collect four wins (two of them due to the withdrawal of the Leipzig Kings), they now want to finally establish themselves as a title candidate in the league. In an exclusive interview new signing Connor Wedington praises the direction the franchise is headed. "After talking with Isaiah Weed (Cologne-Quarterback) and the coaches, I saw a perfect opportunity. A franchise being restructured and rebuilt, an organization destined to rise."

Offensive Line expertise

In order to achieve their competitive goals, they brought in loads of experience and talent, both on the field and on the sideline. Head coach Gregg Brandon will coach his first ELF-season. The 68-year-old began his coaching carrer at the end of the 1970‘s and coached at numerous and prestigious US-colleges in a variety of roles. Most recently, Brandon won 59 out of 74 games as the head coach of the Colorado Mines (2015-2021).

His coaching staff includes the likes of Defensive Coordinator Jag Bal, who brings a lot of ELF-experience and Greg Studrawa, who will help develop the Offensive Line as a coach. Studrawa worked in the same position for LSU and Ohio State. Under his guidance, players like Josh Myers (Green Bay Packers) and Jonah Jackson (Detroit Lions) succesfully developed into starters in the NFL.

New Signings bolster Offensive Line

Now with Cologne, Studrawa awaits a deep and talented Offensive Line. The Centurions were busy in the offseason and signed a bunch of Linemen to hopefully boost the rushing attack, which disappointed last season. The additions of Kevin Kreider, Paul Kolter, Joel Coenes, Jan-Hendrick Koch, Lukas Majer and Bemigho Eyimofe will certainly bring depth, experience and talent to the position group.

Quarterback Isaiah Weed is new to the ELF. © Frederik Löwer

Supporting and protecting the quarterback

The offensive line will also be tasked to protect Isaiah Weed, the new Centurions-Quarterback. The left handed 26-year-old already has a couple of seasons of european football under his belt. After his college days at Nortwestern Oklahoma State, he took his talents to Serbia, Austria, Denmark and Germany. With his athletic ability, Weed can also be included in the rushing game.

Through the air, he will look to get Connor Wedington included. The Wide Receiver is another new signing and figures to be an integral part of the offense. Wedington and Weed will look to show their chemistry on and off the field. The duo has known each other for nearly two decades. "Our families were like best friends. His dad and my stepdad coached us! In high school, Isaiah played with my older brother and I played with his younger one", Wedington says.

New gray threads for the Centurions. © Frederik Löwer

Wide Receiver Wedington brings NFL-experience

After finishing college, Wedington signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans, although he did not appear in a regular season game. Looking back on his time in the league, Wedington gives insight: "The couple of years I played in the NFL gave me a surplus of experience. On a daily basis I was playing and working with the best in the world. Learning from guys like Brandin Cooks, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, & Mohamed Sanu. Everyday for over 2 years I was going against starting NFL defenses and facing the top corners in the league. If they couldn’t guard me, then I don’t know who will.“

On the defensive side of the ball, the Centurions have to find a way to replace Lucky Obgeveon and Fabian Weitz, who both got selected in the CFL Global Draft and will now play in Canada.

The Centurions have every chance to close the gap to the top teams in the ELF. A new coaching staff, new playmakers and a big crowd in the „Tivoli“ should provide for plenty of storylines.