Germany: Cologne Crocodiles sign 4-time German champion QB Casey Therriault
The Cologne Crocodiles, fifth-place finishers in the German Football League North conference, have signed one of the most successful quarterbacks in the past decade in Europe, Casey Therriault, to lead the team in 2020.
Therriault spent the 2019 season guiding the Hildesheim Invaders to the playoffs for the first time in their history. Hildesheim reached the GFL quarterfinals where they were eliminated by the Frankfurt Universe.
Therriault had announced his retirement in late 2017 but returned last season to play for Hildesheim. He threw for 3.252 yards and 34 touchdowns with the Invaders, good for fourth among all GFL quarterbacks.
Over five seasons (2013-2017), the 30-year-old Therriault (Jackson State, NCAA Div. I, FCS) led the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions team to four German Bowl victories and one Eurobowl win. He was named Germany Bowl MVP three times and Eurobowl MVP once.
The native of Grand Rapids, Michigan threw for 14,408 yards passing and 168 touchdown passes during his five seasons while rushing for 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns.
He suffered only one setback with the Lions after he and his team, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, were edged 14-13 in German Bowl XXXIX by the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.
In Therriault’s two seasons as a starter at Jackson State, the 6’3″, 205 lb quarterback threw for 7,227 yards and 58 touchdowns while rushing for 271 yards and another 19 touchdowns. He led the Tigers to 8-3 and 9-2 seasons in 2010 and 2011.
Cologne head coach Patrick Köpper:
“Everyone in the German football community knows how good Casey is. He can precisely deliver every ball to his receivers from anywhere on the field. Due to his outstanding understanding of the game and his incredible athleticism, he is always able to extend plays and take advantage of the weaknesses of opposing defenses. I think having Casey at quarterback along with our other outstanding players, our offense will be difficult to stop this season. Offensive coordinator David Odenthal, who did an excellent job bringing Casey to Cologne, is already in close contact with him. Casey fits perfectly into our system and will give our offense new strength.”
