By Brad Duff
The German Football League kicks off the 2023 season this weekend after a long eventful off-season. This year the GFL South will consist of eight teams with the Ingolstadt Dukes returning after a two-year absence.
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.
Appearing in nine of the last 10 German Bowls, the undefeated Unicorns are yet to be knocked off the top of the GFL South, claiming their fifth National Championship last year – not to mention adding 2022 CEFL Champions to their resumé.
With a lot of teams seeing many roster changes for the upcoming season, it is looking to be a competitive season in the South.
Let’s take a look at the GFL South:
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns: 2022 Record 13-0. German Bowl Champions.
Head Coach: Christian Rothe
Key returning players: WR Tyler Rutenbeck, RB Larz Kozwalski, C Moritz Schreiber, LB Tobias Loeffler, QB Ian Gerhrke, WR Leonell Fritzen, DB Niclas Lux, DB Monteze Latimore, DL Jeremie Lunzama.
Key additions: DB Tommy Kaczocha (USA/Poland, Wasa Royals), TE Stephen McCluskey (GB, Northwestern Oklahoma State, NCAA DII), DL Brady Opp (USA, CSU-Pueblo, NCAA DII), LB Lennart Graner (Germany/GB, SGS Pride Academy), WR Caleb Schweigart (USA, Morningside NAIA).
Allgäu Comets: 2022 Record 7-4. Semifinalists.
Head Coach: Elias Gniffke
Key returning players: DB Eric Eichhorn, LB/DB Dominik Schmid, DB Simon Walch.
Key additions: QB Javarian Smith (USA, Lake Erie College, NCAA DII, Prague Black Panthers), WR Nate Stewart (USA, Montana State, NCAA DI), LB Matt Barrett (USA, St Norbert, NCAA DIII, Krakow Kings), DL Fritz Rupp (Germany, Ravensburg Razorbacks), LB Ata Han Atilgan (Turkey, Istanbul Rams, ELF).
Munich Cowboys: 2022 Record 8-1-2. Quarterfinalists.
Head Coach: Nadine Nurasyid
Key returning players: LB Vinzent Englmann, OT Tobias Tüttinghoff, DB Dominik Titz.
Key additions: WR Lorenzo Thompson (USA, Hampton, NCAA DI), LB Colby Campbell (USA, Duke, NCAA D1, Kuopio Steelers), DB Kevin Ransom (USA, Wayne State, NCAA DII), WR Erich Kilger (Germany, Leipzig Kings, ELF).
Straubing Spiders: 2022 Record 6-4. Quarterfinalists.
Head Coach: Cb Cantwell
Key returning players: WR Fabian Holmer, DL Fabian Raab, DB Philipp Biebl.
Key additions: QB Chris Robison (USA, Florida Atlantic, NCAA DI), RB Kamal Cass (USA, ENMU, NCAA DII), Dionisio Herrera (USA, Ripon College, NCAA DIII), DB Chris McCoy (USA, Linfield University, NCAA DIII), DB Eddie Gourgel (Portugal, Marburg Mercenaries), Aaron Jones (GB, Bialystok Lowlanders).
Saarland Hurricanes: 2022 Record 4-6
Head Coach: Hendrick Voss/Jakob Lawrence
Key returning players: WR Marvin Fuchs, WR Jan Pietsch, DL Tobias Scheibe, LB Mutlu Yildrim, WR Marcel Baumbach, WR Marian Menden.
Key additions: WR Andrew Kamienski (USA, North Central College, NCAA DIII), QB Kyle King (USA, Mary Hardin-Baylor, NCAA DIII), DB Marquis Griffin (USA, Air Force, NCAA DI), RB Thomas Jones (GB, Manchester Titans), Mikkah Hackett (USA, Mary Hardin-Baylor, NCAA DIII), DL Josh Wünsch (Germany/USA, Albion College, NCAA DIII).
Marburg Mercenaries: 2022 Record 4-6.
Head Coach: Augie Stevens
Key returning players: WR Devon Smith (USA, London Beef Eaters), Saury Heininger (Switzerland), Logan Mobelini (USA), DL Sadik Busch.
Key additions: DB Deyleon Williams (USA, Midwestern State, NCAA DII), QB Danny Farley (USA, University of Wisconsin Stout, NCAA DIII), DB Darius Lewis (USA, Istanbul Rams), QB/WR Elliot Bodman (GB, Łaziska Górne Hammers).
Ravensburg Razorbacks: 2022 Record 1-1-8.
Head Coach: Sascha Brändle
Key returning players: RB Lennies McFerren (USA), QB Alexander Kronborg Bjerre (Denmark), LB Jeremy Conley (USA), DL Lucas Walk, LB Elias Eisele.
Key additions: WR Jax Crawford (USA/University of West England, DB Tyren Quinn (USA, Uniiversity of Kentucky, NCAA DI), C Jake Suggett (USA, Central College Dutch, NCAA DIII, University of West England), DL Jesse Meyers (Belguim, Bern Grizzlies, SAFV).
Ingolstadt Dukes: 2022 Record 11-0. GFL2 South Champions.
Head Coach: Eugen Haaf
Key returning players: RB Lane Barnes, WR Gabe Boccella. QB Luis Wittman.
Key additions: OL Jakub Kralik (Czechia), LB Kenneth Telfair Jr. (USA, Straubing Spiders).