Germany: Straubing Spiders add All-Europe running back Lamar Carswell

| American Football | 12/15/2021

The Straubing Spiders of the German Football League have signed former All American running back Lamar Carswell.

Carswell arrives in Germany with a Finnish championship on his resume along with an All-American collegiate career in the US.

The 5’9″, 180-pound Toledo, Ohio native tore up the Maple League (Finland) in 2020 averaging 9.3 yards a carry on 58 carries while rushing for 539 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season that year. Carswell then outdid himself in the Finnish playoffs ripping off 178 yards and three touchdowns in the semifinals adding another 85 yards and one touchdown in the Maple Bowl victory over the Helsinki Wolverines. His pass-catching ability also helped. He caught nine passes for 109 yards and two scores during the regular season and then added another 106 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. In the semifinal alone, he accounted for 228 yards of offense and four of his team’s five touchdowns. Carswell signed with the Wroclaw Panthers in 2021 however left the team due to personal issues.

For his performance in 2020, Carswell was named to the American Football International All-Pandemic Team.

In his four years at Trine University (NCAA Div. III) he rushed for 5,369 yards and a whopping 72 touchdowns including a senior season that saw him carry the ball 276 times for 2,294 yards and 32 touchdowns. Carswell was named the 2018 MIAA Offensive Most Valuable Player and one of four finalists for the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy (NCAA Div. III most outstanding player).

His senior season saw him rush for a school single-season record of 2,294 yards and set single-season marks in rushing TDs (32), yards per game (208.5), all-purpose yards (2,319), all-purpose yards per game (210.8), total points scored (204) and total touchdowns scored (34). His 2,294 rushing yards led all of NCAA Division III and his 208.5 yards per game average was second in the nation.

After winning the GFL 2 in 2021 the Spiders are gearing up their first season in Germany’s top league. With the addition of Carswell to an offense that features quarterback Raleigh Yeldell and a host of domestic talent, the Spiders hope to compete for a playoff spot in the competitive GFL South.

Watch Carswell’s 2020 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