The Leipzig Kings have found their quarterback for the 2023 European League of Football season, as they have signed American signal-caller Kenyatte Allen.
The 28 year-old Allen is coming off a fantastic 2022 season with the Allgäu Comets of the German Football League. In 12 games with the Comets, he threw for 3,342 yards along with a league-leading 43 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions as the team finished with a record of 6-4. He also showed that he can be a threat with his legs, adding 244 yards rushing and six touchdowns on the ground on the season.
Originally from the Atlanta area, Allen started his collegiate career at Arkansas Baptist College at the NAIA level. He later transferred to Robert Morris University in Illinois (not to be confused with Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania). In his two years at Robert Morris, he racked up over 5,500 passing yards and over 60 touchdowns while being named first team all conference in the Mid-States Football Association. After college, he joined the Maine Mammoths, an arena football team in the National Arena League in their lone season of 2018. He then traveled overseas to play for the Durham University Saints in England while receiving a postgraduate education. He has also made stops with the Wataha Zielona Gora of Poland, the Ingolstadt Dukes of Germany, and the Bismarck Bucks of North Dakota, where he spent the 2021 season.
Last season, the Kings used multiple starting quarterbacks on their way to a 4-8 season. Day one starter Jordan Barlow had his season cut short due to injury, as did his replacement Conor Miller. To close the season, the Kings brought in Gabriel Cunningham, who played well in three games, but he has signed with the Fehérvár Enthroners for the upcoming campaign. As such, the Kings expect that Allen will be the only quarterback to see the field next season as they try to make the playoffs for the first time.
Head coach John Booker, entering his first season leading the team, said of the signing,
“Kenyatte possesses the hunger to maximize his ability, and this is the type of leader a team looking to improve needs. His production in the GFL was off the charts. He protects the football, which is evident by the 43 touchdowns to just four interceptions he posted last season. He was also very efficient, completing 68% of his throws. To go along with his proficiency in the pass game, he is a very dangerous runner. We are extremely happy we found a proven productive guy that fits into our team both on the field and off.”