By Roberto Arturo Morales Cruz
The Jefes from Ciudad Juarez in northern Mexico have announced their first wave of international players for their debut in the Liga de Football Americano Profesional, LFA next year.
Among them is Damoun Patterson, a 6’2″ wide receiver who finished the 2018 preseason having caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown with the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers, but was released after an injury. He also spent time on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots practice squads.
Joining him is a trio of players who last played for the Tequileros de Jalisco: running back Noah Whittle, linebacker Kenneth Bradley and safety/linebacker Eldridge Thompson. They were among the standouts of a 2022 season that saw the Tequileros finishing with a 5-3 record, barely missing the Football Americano de Mexico (FAM) playoffs.
Whittle and Bradley also have experience playing overseas. Whittle brought his explosiveness to the German Football League with the Solingen Paladins and Nuremberg Rams, as well to the Husaria Szczecin in Poland. Bradley, on the other hand, was the defensive leader for the Triangle Razorbacks in the 2021 season of the Danish Nationalligaen and also played for the Porvoon Butchers in Finland.
Another signing was that of tight end Dione Smith, who most recently played for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Texas Wesleyan Rams.
The announcement also includes the news of the rehiring of two of their defensive leaders from last season: cornerback Lamarcus O’neal and nose tackle Xavier Williams.
It is unknown at this time if Jefes will sign more international players. The LFA recently increased their cap of import players from 10 to 12.
Jefes finished the 2022 FAM season in seventh place with a record of 3-5. They joined the LFA following the folding of the FAM earlier this year.
Roberto Arturo is a statistician and journalist who has played at the German Football League and Football Americano de Mexico