German Football League 2023: GFL North Preview
The German Football League kicks off the 2023 season this weekend after a far too long off-season. This year the GFL North will consist of seven teams instead of eight following the exit of last year’s semi-finalist the Cologne Crocodiles.
After 11 years without regular season games between the North and South, the GFL will have each team play an opponent from the opposing conference twice next season. The board highlighted exciting postseason matchups such as the 2022 German Bowl rematch of the Potsdam Royals and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns who square off Saturday, May 20th at 17:00 CET
Let’s take a look at the GFL North:
Potsdam Royals: 2022 record – 14-1 German Bowl Runner Ups
Head coach: Michael Vogt
Key returning players: RB Heiko Bals, WR Jared Wolfe, WR Brandon Polk, OT Martin Vammen, OL Stefan Numi Stefansson (Iceland), OL Brendan Oswin, TE Jerome Valbon, DB Ruben De Ruyter,
Key additions: QB Jaylon Henderson (USA, Boise State, NCAA DI), RB Gennadiy Adams (USA/ Russia, Frankfurt Galaxy), DB Peter Lundstrom (Finland, Kuopio Steelers), DT Ikeem Allen (USA, Miami Ohio NCAA DI, Kuopio Steelers), Jaylen Chan-Tung (Australia), DB Ronaldo Tomasello (USA, Italy, Lubeck Cougars, Ball State NCAA DI)
Dresden Monarchs: 2022 record – 4-6
Head coach: Paul Alexander (Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets)
Key returning players: RB Yazan Nasser (Germany), LB Florian Zur Neiden (Germany), RB David Baum, OL Luca Ender, OL Aaron Wahl, WR Eric Seidel, QB Marvin Schone
Key additions: QB Steven Duncan (USA, Tarleton State, NCAA DI) DT Max Parkinson, WR Tommy Wilson (UK), WR Austin Mitchell (USA, Southeastern Louisiana NCAA DI, LB Nico Barrow (Finland), DL Chris Larsen (Canada), DB Narrio Walks (USA, Seton Hill NCAA DII)
New Yorker Lions: 2022 record – 6-4-2
Head coach: Troy Tomlin
Key returning players: WR Benjamin Krahl, WR Justus Holtz, LB David Muller, K Luca Jeckstadt, DB Corvin Hennig , RB Finn Oppermann, OL Johann Sager, DL Oj Thompson (UK/USA)
Key additions: QB Kare Lyles (USA, Jackson State, NCAA DI) OL Deon Mutsvanemoto (UK), DB Nigel Lawrence (USA, South Alabama NCAA DI) , WR Matthew Soldner (USA, Mount Union NCAA DIII), DB Javier Carrasco (Spain), RB Dwanye Obi (UK)
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes: 2022 record – 2-7-1
Head coach: Timo Zorn 2-7-1
Key returning players: WR Benedikt Englmann (2021 German All-Star) OL Kevin Von Kroge, DB CJ Davis, LB Leon Stol, DT Tim Maas, RB Logan Moragne (Raiders Tirol, Henderson State)
Key additions: QB Kaleb Scott (St. Mary’s Canada), Nicholas Moller Hansen (Denmark)
Berlin Rebels: 2022 record – 3-6-1
HC: Douglas Fryer
Key returning players: WR/DB Paul Morant Old Dominion (NCAA Division I FBS ), OT Jedrzej Rudnicki, LB Jorgen Gulbrandsen (Coffeyville Community College, Kansas) OL Sven Skora
Key additions: QB Connor Kaegi (USA, Ottawa University NAIA), DL Jonathan Avant (USA, Missouri State) OL Tomas Middleton Murrillo (Panama), DL Aleksi Olavuo (Finland), OL Viktor Neumann, DL Tyrese Owusu-Bediako (Netherlands), WR Dario Dobrolevski (Austria), RB Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (UK, Istanbul Rams), DB Mykel Dallas Nixon (UK), DB Robby Kendall (USA, Berlin Thunder), WR Bryce Goggin (USA, Southern Oregon), DC Jag Bal (Canada, Raiders Tirol)
Berlin Adler: 2022 record – 6-6
Head coach: Shuan Fatah
Key returning players: QB Zach Cavanaugh (USA, Curry College) OL Nemanja Graovac (Serbia), WR Nathaniel Prince (UK), DL/OL Remi Daniels (UK, London Olympians), OL Olly Sunmola, Ol Yannis Konkol, DL Malik Ngandeu, DL Jason Oluwa, DB Darwin Suh Neba
Key additions: WR Achim Grossman, RB Patrick Oliveira (Brazil) LB Jaymn Haddad (London Warriors) LB Donavan Hayden (USA, Kuopio Steelers), DB IIro Pekkarinen (Kuopio Steelers), WR Tino Ndongo (Kuopio Steelers), DL Saliou Sale, DB Keenan Black (Delaware State), DL Serif Djibrila
Paderborn Dolphins – 2022 record – 8-2 (GFL2)
Head Coach: Jason Irmscher
Key returning players: WR Ramon Van Bentum, DL Dominik Vauth, LB Malte Berg, Leon Beckmeier, K Nils Schauerte, DL Marius Emmerich, DB Jan Berg, OL, Can Kadife, WR Calvin Okoli
Key additions: QB Niklas Gorny (Germany), DB TJ Comstock (USA, Eastern Kentucky), RB Joshua Breece (USA, Washington & Lee NCAA DIII), WR Eren Jenkins (USA, Kansas Wesleyan NAIA), LB Sandro Moreira Da Silva (Spain), DL Nisakhare Aguebor (Italy), OL Tyrone Brown (UK), OL Shaw Arthur (UK)
Graphics: Igor Lazarevic
