By Michael Voitek
The Cologne Centurions finished with a record of 4-8 last year in the European League of Football’s West Conference and most observers would say this was a bad year for this team. However, I think it was a step in the right direction for the Centurions, especially with their inconsistent quarterback play.
The team has signed Gregg Brandon as their new head coach. He should provide a great offensive scheme after being an offensive coordinator at Wyoming, New Mexico State, Bowling Green, Virginia, and the Colorado School of Mines. They also added Canadian Jag Bal as their defensive coordinator. He spent the 2023 season running the defense with the Berlin Rebels in the German Football League but was head coach of the Berlin Thunder in 2021 and defensive coordinator for the Raiders Tirol in 2022.
Let’s take a look at how their offseason went and the roster they created.
Offense
Quarterback
After a headache behind center in 2023, the Centurions have signed Isaiah Weed to lead them into 2024.
Weed played college ball at Northwestern Oklahoma State University before playing multiple seasons overseas. What to look out for with Weed is his ability to take off and run with the ball. In 2023 while in the GFL 2, Weed had 69 carries for 469 yards and 8 touchdowns. We’ll see if he can get this offense moving in 2024.
Running Back
The backfield will once again be lead by Gerald Ameln who was 10th in the league in rushing last year. He put up decent number in 10 games (399 yards on 99 carries), but I would like to see this team lean into the running game a bit more this year.
Wide Receiver
The team loses top receiver Terryon Robinson this year and will have to rely heavily on new A-import Connor Wedington. Wedington played high Division-I ball at Stanford and also joined the Houston Texans, 49ers, and Seahawks in the NFL.
Wedington could definitely be one of the best new signings in the entire ELF. The Centurions really beefed up at tight end signing two E-imports in Daniel Luoma and Robin Merjenburgh. Luoma was primarily a blocking tight end while at Eastern Illinois, but expect his role toe xpand when he joins the Centurions.
Offensive Line
The offensive line will be lead by Fabian Kratz after Carlos Carrasco Sanz’s departure. E-import Viktor Neumann will be one to look out for after coming over from the Berlin Rebels.
Defense
Defensive line
The Centurions had one of the better defenses in the league last year, allowing just over 3,000 yards, albeit in 10 games. The defensive line has lost top sackmen Janek Wenke and Darren Okoeguale, but have made some signings that should benefit them. Lance Leota is coming back to the ELF after a stint with the Kings in which he was an all-star in 2021.
The Centurions also used an American import on Will Lydie, a former D II player at Western Colorado University who could provide this unit with a great boost.
Linebacker
The Centurions lose one of the best players in the whole ELF this offseason in Zachary Blair. Blair was an absolute wrecking ball last year, but to make up for it Cologne made a splash signing by getting Lucky Ogbeveon.
Lucky Ogbeveon
After being a 1st team All-star last year for the Tirol Raiders, Ogbeveon will look to replace Blair in 2024. Sverrri Finson is another name to look out for in 2024. The former Copenhagen Towers LB from Denmark played ball at Wheeling University and should make for a deadly 1-2 punch in this linebacking corps.
Defensive back
Defensive back is an area where I have some concerns for this team. Cologne re-signed A-import Dajon Owens who had a fine year, but I honestly would’ve thought they’d look somewhere else this year. Other than Owens, the Centurions did not use an import on the defensive backfield which could prove costly.
Dajon Owens. © Frederik Löwer
They signed Richard Grooten who spent two years with the Fire, but he didn’t play last year and might be rusty starting the season. This could be the Centurions problem area.
Wrapping up
I like what this team did in the offseason, almost everywhere they lost talent, they replaced it with even better talent. I do worry about their secondary, but I think their pass rush and linebackers help them out tremendously. The offense should be a well-oiled machine with Brandon as their head coach.