Notable ELF Vets on Special Teams and Defense that changed teams in 2024
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, along with detailed player descriptions. We hope this is an added layer for scouts and readers from all our leagues and countries that are evaluating the ELF for potential player additions or insights.
The ELF is a growing force in the global football landscape and features a ton of European and American players with high-level pro experience. With the 2024 ELF season now having started, today we’re looking at notable defensive/specialist ELF vets that swapped teams 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.
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EDGE Alejandro Fernandez Nieto (Madrid Bravos)
Citizenship: Spain
Height: 6007v | Weight: 233v | Hand: 9 5/8v | Arm: 32 3/8v | Wingspan: 77 1/8v | 40: 5.04v | 10: 1.81v | 20: 2.98v | Shuttle: 4.28v | 3-Cone: 7.32v | Broad: 8’11.75”v | Vertical: 31v | Bench: 6v
ELF Career Stats: 33 GP | 31 GS | 106 TOT | 77 SOLO | 29 AST | 31.5 SCK | 49.5 TFL | 2 INT (102 YDS) | 2 INT TD | 5 PBU | 9 FF | 5 FR
ELF Player Awards:
2022 1st Team All-Star
2023 2nd Team All-Star
Background: Fernandez started his ELF run with the Barcelona Dragons for two years before winning the championship with Rhein last season. He was also a 2023 CFL Global Combine participant. He finished second in the league in sacks, good enough to be ALL22’s 4th best DL last season.
Video:
Player snapshot: A highly productive EDGE with excellent speed rush ability. Fernandez possesses a very good get-off, burst and bend. His hand usage is outstanding and he plays with a hot motor. In the run game, he is alert and processes quickly, but he can lose at the POA due to poor strength.
ILB/ST Zachary Blair (Milano Seamen) - The University of Virginia's College at Wise (2015-16)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 6020e | Weight: 220e
ELF Career Stats: 29 GP | 29 GS | 266 TOT | 130 SOLO | 136 AST | 8 SCK | 55 TFL | 1 INT (24 YDS) | 9 PBU | 5 FF | 2 FR | 1 SAF | 13 BLKD
ELF Player Awards:
2022 1st Team All-Star
2023 2nd Team All-Star
Background: Blair’s a well-versed vet now, going into his fourth ELF season. He started at Stuttgart before signing with the former Istanbul Rams in 2022 and Cologne Centurions last year. He is a demon in blocking kicks, leading the ELF in that category since he entered the league. Blair was ALL22’s 10th ranked ILB in 2023.
Video:
Player snapshot: Long and linear downhill MIKE with the strength/speed to play at the LOS. Violent player who wants to open his gait and attack downhill. Diagnoses runs quick and excels at shooting gaps; beating OL by getting skinny through holes. Scrapes through trash with body control to leverage the ball outside. Tackles with a mean strike and a strong wrap. Good blitzer with burst, balance and hand usage.
CB Maceo Beard (Paris Musketeers) - Thetford Mines (2018)
Citizenship: France
Height: 6025v | Weight: 200v | Hand: 9 2/8v | Arm: 31v | Wingspan: 75 2/8v | 40: 4.86v | 10: 1.69v | 20: 2.83v | Shuttle: 4.53v | 3-Cone: 7.27v | Broad: 9’2”v | Vertical: 29v | Bench: 6v
ELF Career Stats: 16 GP | 15 GS | 51 TOT | 36 SOLO | 15 AST | 3 TFL | 10 INT (268 YDS) | 2 INT TD | 14 PBU | 1 FR | 1 BLKD
ELF Player Awards:
2023 Defensive Player of the Year
2023 1st Team All-Star
Background: After a few years in France, he participated in the 2020 CFL Combine and 2021 NFL Combine. Beard spent 2021 in the German American Football League with the Potsdam Royals before again participating in the CFL Combine which allowed him to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022. He now readies for his third different team in the ELF coming off an outstanding season as ALL22’s 3rd best CB last season.
Video:
Player snapshot: Smooth footwork in phase on deep balls from press and bail looks. Solid UOH and play strength to strike and engage on perimeter blockers. Good ball skills to anticipate and jump routes with twitch. Adequate tackler where he displays adequate balance on open field tackles, allowing ball carriers additional yardage after contact.
IDL Hiswill Awuah (Munich Ravens)
Citizenship: Germany/Ghana
Height: 5100e | Weight: 304e
ELF Career Stats: 33 GP | 22 GS | 63 TOT | 25 SOLO | 38 AST | 8.5 SCK | 10 TFL | 1 PBU | 1 FF | 4 FR
ELF Player Awards: N/A
Background: Awuah spent his first three seasons in the ELF with the Hamburg Sea Devils, including finishing as a Defensive Rookie of the Year nominee in 2021. He is undoubtedly one of the best players at his position and was ranked as ALL22’s 23rd best DL out of 81 qualifiers last season.
Video:
Player snapshot: Short and stocky nose guard who is tough to move in the run game. Awuah is a space eater on the interior using his natural leverage and strong lower body. He plays with very good mentals and alertness, where he sniffs out a variety of screens and misdirection. Affects the passer with surprising quickness on early downs. Lacks the length and sophistication in his rush to be more than a pocket pusher on 3rd down.
SAF/CB Kevin Fortes (Helvetic Mercenaries)
Citizenship: France
Height: 6012v | Weight: 189v | Hand: 9 4/8e | Arm: 32 2/8e | Wingspan: 79 5/8e | 40: 5.05v | 10: 1.80e | 20: 2.99e | Shuttle: 4.45v | 3-Cone: 7.00v | Broad: 9’1”v | Vertical: 28.5v | Bench: 5v
ELF Career Stats: 20 GP | 19 GS | 65 TOT | 44 SOLO | 21 AST | 4.5 TFL | 5 INT (96 YDS) | 5 PBU | 2 FF | 1 FR | 1 FR TD
ELF Player Awards:
2022 1st Team All-Star
Background: Fortes played for the Saarland Hurricanes in the German Football League 2 in 2019. He then signed with the Potsdam Royals in the 1st league after the covid off year. He was also a 2022 NFL International Combine invite. The Frenchman previously played for the Hamburg Sea Devils and briefly for the Madrid Bravos this season. Fortes finished as the 6th best safety in ALL22’s 2023 rankings.
Video:
Player snapshot: Good burst to drive underneath concepts with solid mental processing and play speed. Good play strength and UOH on the perimeter to defeat blocks. Solid foot speed to transition at hard angles to the perimeter. Solid starter at corner (2-high schemes) or box safety in single-high, zone-heavy schemes where he can use his size to set hard edges vs the run and close windows on underneath routes.
EDGE Jan-Phillip Bombek (Vienna Vikings) - Colorado State University (2018-19) / Feather River College (2016-17)
Citizenship: Germany/Austria
Height: 6026v | Weight: 255v | Hand: 9 3/8v | Arm: 32v | Wingspan: 76v | 40: 4.95v | 10: 1.72v | 20: 2.88v | Shuttle: 4.59v | 3-Cone: 7.71v | Broad: N/A | Vertical: 31v | Bench: 22v
ELF Career Stats: 31 GP | 20 GS | 69 TOT | 39 SOLO | 30 AST | 26 SCK | 29.5 TFL | 2 PBU | 4 FF | 2 FR | 1 BLKD
ELF Player Awards:
2023 2nd Team All-Star
Background: After going undrafted in 2020, he was a 2021 NFL International Combine participant. He started his ELF run with Hamburg and Leipzig before returning to the Sea Devils last season. He finished as the 26th best DL by ALL22 out of 81 qualifiers.
Video:
Player snapshot: Good sized stand-up DE who rushes from wide alignments primarily. Bombek is very good when rushing an outside track, using his get off and great hands to beat tackles. He struggles when forced to convert to power or find a counter as a rusher. Is upfield hunting for TFL against the run with solid speed.
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