Standout Defensive/Specialist Players Through the First Half of the ELF 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.
Today we’re looking at the best defensive and specialist performers through the halfway point of the regular season. There’s some new stats being shown for the specialists, so here’s a key to help clarify them:
PNT = Punts | TB = Touchbacks | FGM = Field Goals Made | FGA = Field Goals Attempted | PATM = Point After Touchdowns Made | PATA = Point After Touchdowns Attempted | PTS = Points | KO = Kickoffs | KO-OB = Kickoffs Out of Bounds
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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ILB A.J. Wentland (Wroclaw Panthers) - McKendree University (2013-16)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 6026v | Weight: 240v | Hand: 9 3/8v | Arm: 30 5/8v | Wingspan: 75 7/8v | 40: 4.92v | 10: 1.62v | 20: 2.75v | Shuttle: N/A | 3-Cone: N/A | Broad: N/A | Vertical: N/A | Bench: N/A
2024 ELF Stats: 7 GP | 5 GS | 96 TOT | 38 SOLO | 58 AST | 3.5 SCK | 9 TFL | 1 INT (17 YDS) | 3 PBU | 1 FF | 1 BLKD
ELF Player Awards:
2022 1st Team All-Star
2023 1st Team All-Star
Background: Wentland was invited to the Chicago Bears rookie camp and also had training sessions with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2017. He then spent two years in the GFL with the Dresden Monarchs. He joined Finnish side, Kuopio Steelers in 2020 before jumping between Raiders Tirol and the Dresden Monarchs again in 2021. He debuted in the ELF with the Leipzig Kings in 2022 and has been with Wroclaw the last two seasons. He’s having a DPOY type season this year, currently leading the league in total tackles. He was ranked as ALL22’s best ILB last season.
Video:
Player snapshot: Wentland is a complete player vs the run. Depicts the knowledge to read and react with confidence. Stays low and has the agility to dip past lead blockers. Stacks and sheds quickly, while staying in control and square to the LOS. Has sideline to sideline range with the athleticism to run ballcarriers down from the backside. Closes distance in a hurry and tackles like a menace. A feared blitzer who rushes with burst and power, while frequently batting down balls in the backfield. He is comfortable across different types of zones, rerouting receivers in his area with force. Shows hip fluidity in man to match against TE's up the seam and RB's on flats.
DL Kyle Kitchens (Berlin Thunder) - Catawba College (2014-18)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 6010v | Weight: 232v | Hand: 9 4/8v | Arm: 31 2/8v | Wingspan: 77 2/8v | 40: 4.88v | 10: 1.71v | 20: 2.77v | Shuttle: 4.59v | 3-Cone: 7.73v | Broad: 07’11”v | Vertical: 26v | Bench: 19v
2024 ELF Stats: 8 GP | 6 GS | 38 TOT | 19 SOLO | 19 AST | 10 SCK | 16.5 TFL | 1 PBU | 3 FF
ELF Player Awards:
2021 Defensive Player of the Year
2022 Defensive Player of the Year
2021 All-Star
2022 1st Team All-Star
2023 1st Team All-Star
Background: He got his pro start in 2019 with the GFL’s Potsdam Royals before jumping to the Hildesheim Invaders in 2020. He also played in the Spring League that year with the Aviators. In 2021, he was in the Fan Controlled Football League, playing with the Wild Aces. He made his ELF debut with Leipzig in 2021 and has spent the last three years with Berlin. He’s having another sensational campaign in 2024, leading the league in sacks and tackles for loss. He was crowned as the best DL last year by ALL22.
Video:
Player snapshot: DE who can play in a two point stance or reduce inside. Kitchens consistently dominates single blocks. Has very good get off and burst, as well as snap timing. His hand usage, quickness and violence are elite. With his strike, he consistently generates knockback and wins the leverage battle at the point of attack. He can lack a rush plan when doubled and his anchor is average. Below-average effort on plays away from him and his pursuit is non-existent at times. Will hunt for sacks and sometimes get too far upfield on runs.
SAF/PT Benjamin Straight (Vienna Vikings)
Citizenship: Austria/USA
Height: 6000e | Weight: 200e
2024 ELF Stats: 8 GP | 6 GS | 36 TOT | 20 SOLO | 16 AST | 4 INT (72 YDS) | 1 INT TD | 6 PBU | 28 PNT | 921 YDS | 32.89 AVG | 1 TB
ELF Player Awards:
2022 2nd Team All-Star
Background: From 2018-2021, Straight was with the AFC Vienna Vikings. He officially jumped over to the ELF in 2022 with Vienna. He had a solid season last year, grading out as the 8th best safety out of 43 qualifiers by ALL22. He also was graded as the 16th best punter out of 18 qualifiers last year. He’s having a DPOY type run this year, currently tying for the league lead in interceptions and interception TD’s.
Video:
Player snapshot: Solid burst and COD to match quick receivers on low and intermediate routes. Good UOH and upper body play strength to destroy perimeter blocks on runs and screens. Quick mental processing and foot speed to set the edge on perimeter runs from detached sets. Adequate balance on perimeter tackles with decent form to secure ball carriers along the perimeter. Shows average acceleration to stay over top on deep routes. A reliable box safety in zone schemes, where he can fit the perimeter or insert on runs or into curl/flat drops. Two-step punter with elite touch-to-toe time. Highly flexible athlete who consistently explodes up and through the football. Has a tendency to swing across his body at times which can cause misdirection issues. Has shown the ability to handle poor snaps and high pressure situations with composure and smooth hands. He is a real threat for potential fake punt attempts due to his speed and athleticism.
CB Jalen Embry (Madrid Bravos) - Northern Illinois University (2016-18) / Iowa Central CC (2015) / University of Iowa (2014)
Citizenship: USA
Height: 5106v | Weight: 195v | Hand: 9 2/8v | Arm: 30 7/8v | Wingspan: 75v | 40: 4.68v | 10: 1.63v | 20: 2.68v | Shuttle: 4.35v | 3-Cone: 6.97v | Broad: 09’09”v | Vertical: 33v | Bench: 13v
2024 ELF Stats: 6 GP | 5 GS | 23 TOT | 16 SOLO | 7 AST | 4 INT (73 YDS) | 1 INT TD | 3 PBU | 1 BLKD
ELF Player Awards: N/A
Background: Embry was invited to the Houston Texans 2019 rookie mini-camp before spending 2020 in the Spring League with the Aviators. He was selected in the 11th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the New Orleans Breakers. After getting cut, he debuted in the ELF with Frankfurt in 2022. He spent last season with Raiders Tirol, grading out as the 6th best CB of 34 qualifiers, according to ALL22. He’s had an immensely successful 2024 campaign thus far, currently tied for the league lead in picks and interception return TD’s.
Video:
Player snapshot: Solid overall athlete with good burst and COD. Adequate balance. Fluid peddle and solid foot speed from off to match high-COD or full speed routes. Good burst and COD to squeeze vs. underneath routes with good anticipation to bait underneath throws. Solid hip fluidity to stay in phase from press alignments. Below average physical toughness to attack the edge. Keen mental processing and awesome burst to drive on quick underneath routes from off match coverage. Displays nice ball skills to disrupt the catch while playing through the man. Decent physicality to attack ball carriers in the interior. Good ability to track and secure ball carriers on open field tackles.
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