American football evolves every year, and with it, the illusion of facing new challenges from all corners of Europe. Each season, the European League of Football welcomes more followers who believe in this project. Teams with nostalgia or created from scratch; everyone has a place. And they all have a story to tell. For this reason, we want to bring you, the fans, a little piece of each one of them. So that you put a face and eyes on the rivals who are going to fight with the Barcelona Dragons to travel a path to Duisburg.
HISTORY
We do not move from Germany, the country that withdraws the most teams in the European League of Football. We traveled to the southwest of the country, to the city of Stuttgart, known for its manufacturing. In fact, companies like Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have their headquarters there. But here we have come to talk about football. The Stuttgart Surge are one of the eight founders of the League. Initially, it was suspected that the franchise would enter the competition under the name of Stuttgart Scorpions, adopted from the team that plays in the GFL (German Football League). But, finally, he decided on ‘Surge’ in honor of the Sacramento Surge, the 1992 World Bowl champion team.
The German team played their first game against the Barcelona Dragons, and they won it by a tight 17-21. In this regard, the Stuttgart Surge have not had a good first two years in the European League of Football. They have only managed to win one more game: against the Leizpig Kings in Week 4 (27-24). Therefore, the first season of the ELF ended with a run of two wins and eight losses for them. But in 2022, in the second year of the League’s life, the result was much worse. They were framed in the Central Conference and could not get a single victory in twelve games. Therefore, in two years of life, the Stuttgart Surge accumulate a partial of 2-20. But be careful, because each season is a world. This year it seems that they have strengthened well and seem to be dangerous, having a very united block and knowing each other perfectly.
PLAYERS TO HIGHLIGHT
- Reilly Hennessey: Italian-American quarterback who knows Head Coach Jordan Neumann well, having been together at Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns of the German Football League. In said club, he had 2,088 yards and 27 touchdowns in 11 games in the 2022 season. He completed 73% of his passes in a dream season: winning the German Bowl and CEFL. Be very careful with his arm in the Red Zone.
- Yannick Mayr: Very talented Austrian receiver in Austrian football. As a youth, he stood out enormously, being the MVP from 2013 to 2016 and was key to the victory of the national team in 2015. He also belonged to the Unicorns along with Hennessey and Neumann. The former Tirol Raiders player could only play four games due to injury problems, but he had 21 catches for 385 yards and five touchdowns, ranking second in touchdowns and third in yards on the Tyrolean team.
- Goran Zec: Experienced Serbian Defensive Back who will be in his third year in the ELF. Twice selected as a European League of Football All-Star. Great athletic abilities for passing balls that allowed him to make some incredible catches, and a very good tackler; one of the best in the competition. The former Wroclaw Panthers player knows his teammates very well in this tight-knit block, as he was also part of the Unicorns.
- Khaylan Kearse-Thomas: American ‘import’ who played college football for his country with the Arizona State Sun Devils. The linebacker recorded 66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 13 games. In 2020, the NFL’s Tennessee Titans signed him as an undrafted free agent. He also went through the Canadian Football League (where he only stayed for ten days) before landing in Stuttgart.
