ELF: 2024 Raiders Tirol – A Roster Breakdown

By Michael Voitec

The Raiders Tirol had a wild European League of Football season in 2023 filled with quarterback controversy and drama all over the team.

They’re coming back with a mostly new roster and it will be interesting to see how they finish after winding up with an 8-4 record in 2023. New coach Jim Herrmann looks to steer this ship in the right direction and have the black hole come back alive.

Let’s check out their 2024 roster.

Their roster consists of 52 players, 4 A-import and 6 E-imports.

Offense

Quarterback

After the chaotic quarterback  controversy of 2023, the Raiders are looking for stability from D’Angelo Fulford. Fulford played at the University of Mount Union and put up good numbers while there. From 2017 to 2019, Fulford’s Purple Raiders won over 40 games while losing just two while he threw for 9,051 yards and 130 touchdowns. He also has some wheels and rushed for 1,301 yards and 17 touchdowns and can make some plays for this team. We’ll see if he’s ready for the bright lights of the ELF.

Running Back

At running back, the Raiders bring back the fourth leading rusher in the ELF, Tobias Bonatti. He did a great job filling in for Sandro Platzgummer last year and looks to keep up momentum in 2024.

Wide Receiver

Phillip Haun is a definite player to be aware of on the Raiders’ team. The wideout put up 776 yards and a team high nine receiving touchdowns in 2023. To help Haun after the departure of Jarvis McClam the team signed Darion Chafin out of Incarnate Word College.

Chafin had a ridiculous 18 touchdowns in 2022 for Incarnate Word and was an FCS 3rd team All-American. If that duo wasn’t enough, the team also has Marco Schneider coming back, making for a dynamic receiving corps.

Offensive Line

The O-line loses Toby Lettman and Steven Nielsen, but they used 3 E-imports on Alberto Aducci, Oscar Strömstedt, and Isaiah Kleberg. We’ll see how this line holds up as a new group in 2024.

Defense

Defensive Line

They had a solid defensive unit last year, but with new additions, the Raiders will look to keep up the good work.

On the defensive line, the Raiders signed Berend Grube from the Hamburg Sea Devils. Grube had a monster year in 2023 with 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 51 tackles. With the loss of Niklas Gustav, Grube will have to make up for a lot of production. Be on the lookout for Armin Husarevic to have a solid season this year.

Linebacker

The Raiders lose top tackler Lucky Ogbeveon, but they still have his brother Precious on the team. To make up for Lucky’s departure the team signed former American college football player Robert Lachmann as a homegrown talent. He played his college ball in Albany and made a big impact.

Defensive Back

At cornerback, the Raiders had a huge signing, getting Devin Taylor. Taylor played For the Washington Redskins and at Division-I Virginia Tech and Bowling Green. To boost this unit they also added Fara’ad McCombs, who played Division-I ball at Columbia University.

With the departure of Divine Buckrham, this team will need these two to step up. Jonas Gacek has plenty of experience playing in Europe and should help them greatly as well.

Wrapping Up

I like what this team did after their departures. I think their defensive line might struggle a bit with the loss of Gustav and the aging Grube to replace him, but elsewhere the team looks good. A lot of this team comes down to if Fulford can deliver the ball to his great wide receivers. If he can, the Raiders can go places.

Offseason Grade: B+