ELF: Barcelona Dragons release roster for 2022 season

AFI | American Football | 05/05/2022

The Barcelona Dragons have announced their roster for the 2022 European League of Football season.

Barcelona finished third in the ELF South division.

The Dragons enter the second season of the ELF with a brand new head coach in Andrew Weidinger, and a new “old” look team. Returning at quarterback is Zach Edwards, who guided the Dragons to a 3-7 record in 2021 but with two of those three wins coming in the last four games of the season. Edwards was the third leading passer in the ELF in 2021 having thrown for 2,514 yards and 21 touchdowns in 10 games. Other key returnees include safety Niko Lester who recorded 41 tackles and three interceptions in 2021 and was named to the ELF All Star Team. Also returning on defense is Canadian safety Lautaro Frecha from the University of Waterloo as well as Spanish linebacker Cesare Brugnani who had 44 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in 10 games in 2021.

Key additions include receiver Benjamin Plu who played for the Seinäjoki Crocodiles in Finland’s Maple League in 2021 and finished as the team’s leading receiver. Former Washington State University wide receiver Kyle Sweet adds to Zach Edwards arsenal of receivers. In his career with the Cougars, Sweet recorded 139 receptions for 1,454 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per catch. Another newcomer to the offense is 6’6″ Danish offensive lineman Mathias Roll Hummelmose who played for the Odense Badgers in Denmark. New on defense is safety Shawn Wilson from Oregon State. In his four-year career with the Beavers, he notched 140 tackles and nine tackles for loss as well as 11 pass deflections and three interceptions. Joining him on the defensive unit is French defensive tackle Edwin Elio who spent the 2021 season with German semifinalists, the Potsdam Royals.

Barcelona will also have former NFL kicker Giorgio Tavecchio from Italy on the roster. Tavecchio a native of Milan, became historic when playing for the Oakland Raiders, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to kick two +50 yard field goals in his debut game.

The Dragons open their 2022 season on June 5 when they face the Stuttgart Surge in Stuttgart, Germany.