The Helvetic Guards of the European League of Football have signed former NCAA DI and German Football League star running back Silas Nacita.
The veteran ball carrier has amassed over 10,500 all-purpose yards and scored 137 touchdowns during his four seasons in Europe. Yesterday, he was officially lured out of retirement in Texas for another run at glory in Europe:
“I’m extremely excited to play for the Guards in the European League of Football. One of my goals while I was playing in other leagues was to shine light on football in Europe and share the stories of the players. So many guys have such a pure love for the game in Europe and the ELF is doing an incredible job of highlighting them. I’m looking forward to helping build European football into a globally recognized thing. As far as football goes, I can see a championship in Switzerland.”
One of Europe’s most dynamic players of the last five years made a short return to the field last season, signing with Austria’s Danube Dragons in July. The 5’11 200-lb running back scored a ridiculous eight touchdowns and had 376 yards in two games helping the Dragons win the semifinal and Austrian Bowl, himself the AFL Finals MVP in the process.
In his last full season in Europe, Nacita led the 2019 Firenze Guelfi in Florence, Italy to the Italian final. Nacita’s 2019 regular season stats with the Guelfi were outstanding as he rushed for 1,146 yards and a league-best 20 TD while also throwing for 534 yards and another eight touchdowns. He kept it up in the playoffs. He rushed for a total of 687 yards and nine touchdowns in the wild card round, semifinal and Italian championship game while throwing for 468 yards and four more touchdowns. His team eventually fell in the championship final, losing to the Milano Seamen.
“I want to compete and win, of course, but more importantly I love the people of Europe. I love learning about their lives and their culture. I especially love the players who share my love for American Football. I want to see them succeed and flourish. My overall goal on the field and off the field is to help grow the sport and create more opportunities for others.”
Prior to his time in Italy, Nacita was a dominant force in the German Football League for three seasons. in 2018, he led the league in all-purpose yards averaging 192.6 per game while playing quarterback and running back for the Marburg Mercenaries. He rushed for 808 yards and 10 TDs, passed for 811 yards and 12 TDs, caught 65 passes for 1,005 yards and 15 TDs, returned 10 punts for 140 yards and a TD, returned 28 kickoffs for 743 yards and punted 44 times for 682 yards (38.2 yard average).
In 2017, he was the fourth leading rusher in the GFL in 2017 while playing for the Frankfurt Universe with 1,394 yards and 15 touchdowns but averaging 7.5 yards a carry. In 2016, his first year in Europe playing for the Mercenaries he rushed for 1,581 yards and 21 touchdowns, good for third in the country.
The Bakersfield, California native began his college career at Cornell University (NCAA DI FCS) in the Ivy League. Following one season there, he transferred to Baylor University (NCAA DI) as a walk-on running back. In 2014, he totalled 191 yards and three touchdowns, while making nine tackles on special teams as the Bears won the Big 12 championship.
His rise at Baylor quickly stopped as the walk on was highly reported in a NCAA violations scandal which shunted him into football purgatory, dismissing him from the program. Nacita reportedly accepted housing benefits from a friend as he was homeless at the time. Back in 2015 this was a NCAA violation leading him to be dissmissed from the Bears program.
Now Nacita is back in Europe, looking to be key player for the Helvetic Guards in the European League of Football. The dynamic running back joins former SEC quarterback Collin Hill, former USC and XFL coach Norm Chow, and a host of domestic talent in the Zurich based Helvetic Guards.
