Notable Defensive and Specialist Players That Should Be in the ELF This Season
After the completion of the 2023 European League of Football (ELF) season, ALL22’s scouts did a thorough ranking of every position group in the league. This was used as an evaluation tool and resource for the understanding of this ever-growing league. With that in-depth analysis from our pro-trained scouts, we will refer back to those rankings in spots to help readers gain context.
After about three-quarters of the season now being completed, today we’re going to be looking at some notable defensive and special teams players that had big seasons last year, but who are not in the ELF in 2024.
For further details, film, contact info, and more testing information please refer to player’s profiles on the ALL22 scouting app, or contact Samit Bariana.
To sign up for ALL22, contact Derek Sawyer at dsawyer@all22.org. Anyone interested in learning more about scouting positions and certification opportunities with All22 is asked to email Patrik Asen at programs@all22.org.
Feel free to give me any feedback on my Twitter/X or Instagram. Any thoughts on the players? Do you enjoy this type of content? What would you like to see more/less of? I’m always available for a chat. Thanks!
CB Terrance Newell II - University of West Alabama (2020-22) / Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (2018-19)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 6030e | Weight: 179e
ELF Career Stats: 6 GP | 6 GS | 27 TOT | 23 SOLO | 4 AST | 2 TFL | 1 INT (7 YDS) | 4 PBU
ELF Player Awards: N/A
Background: After graduating from college, Newell spent a year with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks. He then jumped over to the ELF last year and made a massive impact for the Prague Lions. He earned the distinct honor of being ranked as the best of 34 CB’s in the league last season by ALL22.
Video:
Player snapshot: Long arms and good foot speed, COD and hips to press receivers off the line of scrimmage. Shows nimble feet to match outside receivers in man coverage, with ability to stay in phase with speedy vertical routes. Solid tackling skills to track ball carriers at high angles. Comes off of man coverage and shows tackling power to stop power backs in off-tackle runs. Nice ball skills to separate the ball from the receiver on underneath routes. A versatile starting corner that can play a variety of techniques in both man and zone schemes.
EDGE Niklas Gustav - Morningside University (2016-20)
Citizenship: Germany
Height: 6030e | Weight: 245e
ELF Career Stats: 24 GP | 23 GS | 102 TOT | 53 SOLO | 49 AST | 20.5 SCK | 30.5 TFL | 2 PBU | 4 FF | 1 SFTY
ELF Player Awards:
2022 2nd Team All-Star
2023 1st Team All-Star
Background: Gustav was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 CFL Global Draft by the BC Lions. After two years there, he jumped over to the ELF in 2022 with Raiders Tirol. He had a big year with them in 2023, finishing third in the league in sacks. It was good enough to be ranked as the second-best DL out of 81 qualifiers by ALL22. He’s currently coaching defensive ends at Concordia University Ann Arbor.
Video:
Player snapshot: Physical Edge who has reduced to 3T in passing situations as well. Gustav is a dominant rusher with a great motor and excellent hand usage. His bend is good and he can also win as a power rusher with consistent counters. His finishing at the QB is outstanding. He has great shock in his hands, generating instant knockback. Sets a heavy edge and can recover inside consistently, making him a premier run defender. Gustav projects as a consistently dominant player in the ELF who can carry a pass rush unit and has to be game-planned against.
SAF/NI Koi Freeman - Samford University (2017-22)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 6005v | Weight: 194v | Hand: 10v | Arm: 33v | Wingspan: 78 7/8v | 40: 4.77v | 10: 1.63v | 20: 2.70v | Shuttle: 4.55v | 3-Cone: 7.32v | Broad: 10’07”v | Vertical: 35.5v | Bench: 10v
ELF Career Stats: 6 GP | 6 GS | 33 TOT | 20 SOLO | 13 AST | 1 SCK | 2 TFL | 1 PBU
ELF Player Awards: N/A
Background: Freeman’s first pro gig was last season with the Rhein Fire. He made an astounding impact in his short time there, as ALL22 graded him as the fourth-best safety out of 43 qualifiers.
Video:
Player snapshot: Long and lean frame with adequate muscular build and definition. Solid overall athlete with the COD to transition effectively from the slot. Good foot speed in press coverage to run with underneath and intermediate routes. Acute mental processing to match and drive on routes from depth. A starting nickel defender in man-dominant schemes where he can match versus slot athletes and use his length to set edges on outside schemes.
PT/WR Tim Albrecht
Citizenship: Germany
Height: 6016e | Weight: 205e
ELF Career Stats: 20 GP | 10 REC | 23 TGTS | 124 YDS | 12.4 YPR | 1 TD | 38 PNT | 1,579 YDS | 41.55 AVG | 2 TB | 1 KO | 63 YDS | 63.0 AVG
ELF Player Awards: N/A
Background: Albrecht got his pro start in the GFL with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes from 2017-18. He then spent some time off before joining the ELF’s Hamburg Sea Devils in 2022. He had a solid season in 2023 with Hamburg, finishing as the fourth-best punter out of 18 qualifiers, according to ALL22.
Video:
Player snapshot: Pre-snap hesitation with a habit of stepping back as he catches the ball. Strong leg, but can struggle to keep his steps compact, which has an effect on the steadiness of his drop and contact with the football. Consistently swings across his body which increases his chances of shanking punts off the side of his foot.
Subscribe to the ALL22 Global Scouting Network Substack to view the remaining players on the list!