AFI’s All-Europe Team: Quarterback – K.J. Carta Samuels, Dresden Monarchs

| American Football | 01/01/2022

For the first time in German Football League history, the Dresden Monarchs were crowned German Bowl champs earlier this year and it was in every way thanks to their quarterback, K.J Carta-Samuels.

His timing, accuracy and poise were like few others to have played in Europe in recent years. It is for this reason that he is choice as the quarterback for the AFI All-Europe Team this year.

Carta-Samuels played his first four years of college football at the University of Washington (NCAA DI, FBS) where he appeared in a smattering of games, putting up modest numbers. It wasn’t until his final year of eligibility that he transferred to Colorado State University (NCAA DI, FBS)) and began to show what he was capable of. In his season opener against Hawaii, he put up an insane 537 yards and five touchdowns to break multiple records and earn himself a spot in the CFL with the B.C Lions the following year. He finished the year throwing for 2.261 yards and 19 touchdowns in eight games.

This was the caliber of quarterback that Dresden signed back in the beginning of the year, and from the day he arrived, Carta-Samuels showed it. In the season-opening loss (and the only loss of the season) the San Jose, California, native threw for 374 yards and five touchdowns. This was no anomaly and the young signal caller continued to shred opposing defenses all year long, utilizing every weapon on the field. Carta-Samuels finished the season with 4,038 passing yards, 54 touchdowns and only eight interceptions in 13 games.

These numbers were of course outstanding, but it was more than just his stats. Carta-Samuels did what no other quarterback in Dresden Monarchs’ history could do, win a German Bowl, and against a loaded Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns squad. In that game, trailing 19-7 early in the third quarter, Carta-Samuels helped his team engineer 21 unanswered points to capture the title with a 28-19 victory.

From day one, the young quarterback proved he was a leader on the best team in the GFL and was well deserving as the choice for the AFI All-Europe Team.

 

 

 

Daniel Mackenzie is a Press Association graduate who works in journalism and communications in the third sector. Daniel began playing football for the London Warriors and Team Great Britain and has since played across Europe.