ELF: Raiders Tirol sign standout DE Berend Grube

| American Football | 12/19/2023

The Raiders Tirol have finally made a big splash this European League of Football offseason, as the team has announced the signing of veteran German defensive end Berend Grube.

In the three-year history of the ELF, Grube has spent every season with the Hamburg Sea Devils.  He was named an all star in the league’s first season in 2021 after recording 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in nine games.  After a less productive 2022, he bounced back in 2023, recording 51 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, along with 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries, in 12 games.  His 9.5 sacks were tied for 5th among all defenders in the league.  With the Sea Devils, he was also part of two runs to the league championship game, as Hamburg reached the finals in 2021 and 2022, though they lost both times.

Grube was recognized for his performance in 2023, as he was named the team MVP of the Sea Devils, and was ranked as the 9th best player in the ELF’s Top 100 list.

The 32 year old Grube grew up in Lübeck, Germany, but played college football in the United States at Thiel College, a Division III program.  He played a variety of positions with the Tomcats, from tight end to defensive lineman to kicker.  After graduating, he returned to Germany, and played with the Lübeck Cougars (GFL2) from 2015-2019.  Throughout his time with the Cougars, he played both sides of the ball, and recorded 217 tackles, 23 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 7 receiving touchdowns.

The Raiders barely missed out on a playoff spot last season, finishing with a record of 8-4, and they are hoping that Grube will be a catalyst who can help get them back to the postseason.  However, outside of this signing, the team has had a relatively quiet offseason.  They have not yet signed any American import players, and still have a vacancy at the quarterback position.  They will likely be making those signings in the coming weeks, but they are noticeably lagging behind their rivals in this regard.  With that being said, they have done a good job of re-signing some of their key Austrian players from last season, such as running back Tobias Bonatti, Philipp Haun, and Adrian Platzgummer.

A current student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carter played football in high school and has been a lifelong avid football fan.