The Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football have signed quarterback Joe Germinerio.
Thunder head coach Johnny Schmuck is excited to have signed one of Germany’s top passers from last season:
“Joe is a real coup for us. For me, he was the best and most dangerous QB in the GFL last year (Kiel Baltic Hurricanes). Joe is a physically strong dual-threat QB and a great leader who makes every teammate better. He will bring a lot of joy to Thunder fans and some headaches to opposing coaches.”
The 6’2″, 220-pound 23-year-old passer played this last season in northern Germany with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League. There, Germinerio threw for 2,265 yards and 21 touchdowns in nine games. His average of 251 passing yards per game placed him fourth in the entire league. On the ground, Germinerio led Kiel in rushing with 350 yards and seven scores. Kiel’s signal caller’s season was highlighted by a record-breaking seven touchdown 661-yard performance against the Dresden Monarchs on August the seventh.
As a starter at both Ithaca and Brockport, the native of Wynantskill, New York, compiled an impressive overall record of 37 wins and only seven losses. He spent his senior year with Ithaca where he was named East Region Offensive Player of the Year after he completed 281 of 403 passes for 3,388 yards and 33 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions while rushing for a team-high 424 yards and seven touchdowns.
Germinerio began his college career at The College at Brockport in New York State. He performed at a high level starting in his first season, 2016, when he started seven of ten games and led his team up to the ECAC Bowl. In 2017 he threw passes for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns and helped lead the team to an unbeaten regular season. This was followed by a deep playoff run when the Golden Eagles reached the NCAA Division III semifinals.
In 2018, he again led Brockport to a perfect season and again threw over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. After graduating in spring 2019, he moved to Ithaca College for his final season. There he led his new team to the ECAC Bowl and threw passes for 3,388 yards and 33 touchdowns. As in previous years, he was elected to several regional All-Star teams and was again nominated for the Gagliardi Trophy.
The Thunder have now signed three American imports as they look to bounce back from a disappointing inaugural season. Berlin’s newest quarterback joins American imports Joc Crawford and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Kyle Kitchens.
Watch Germinerio’s NCAA highlights here
