ELF: Vienna Vikings sign DB Exavier Edwards

| American Football | 01/01/2022

The Vienna Vikings of the European League of Football have agreed to terms with American defensive back Exavier Edwards.

The veteran international athlete is excited to take his talents to Austria’s capital:

“I personally picked the Vikings because I love loyalty in the whole organization, and I’ve simply heard nothing but good news about the Vienna Vikings. I already have a good relationship with the coaches but the most important part to me is to lead this team to a championship culture and of course meeting my new teammates. They will be my brothers and I can’t wait to go to war with them.  I’m very excited about our team and I can’t wait for the 2022 season.”

The 5’10,” 195-pound Los Angeles, California native comes to Vienna after an outstanding season with the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions in the German Football League. Edwards played all over the field for the Lions splitting time as a running back and safety for the German powerhouse. Offensively, Edwards finished the season with 1,144 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns. The versatile athlete tallied 724 rushing yards, along with contributing as a receiver and kick returner. On the other side of the ball, the 28-year-old flashed the ability to change the game with limited snaps, finishing the season with nine tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Prior to the season in Braunschweig, Edwards played both ways for France’s Thonon Black Panthers in 2020 before the covid 19 pandemic cut the season short. One year earlier, he was playing in Turkey for the ODTU Falcons in his first international stop.

Edwards spent his college days as part of the Midland University Warriors (NAIA) in Fremont, Nebraska. Unsurprisingly, Edwards played various positions in college lining up at wide receiver, running back, safety, and kick returner. In 2017, Edwards earned All-conference honors as a kick returner and defensive back scoring two return touchdowns, to go along with making 37 tackles and two interceptions.

The well-traveled veteran joins a Vikings defense that appears to be loaded with talent. Vienna has already announced the re-signing of reigning Austrian Football League defensive player of the year Leon Balogh, along with acquiring linebackers Thomas Schnurrer and Dustin Illetschko. Edwards’s versatility could play a large factor next season as he’s able to step into various positions in all three phases of the game.

Watch Edwards highlights here

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and