ELF: Paris Football Team signs ELF Veteran DT Edwin Elio

The Paris Football Team of the European League of Football (ELF) continues to beef up its defensive line with the addition of talented homegrown player Edwin Elio.

The 5’11″, 300-pound defensive tackle suited up last season for the Barcelona Dragons helping anchor their unit from the nose tackle position. Using his size and strength, Elio posted 37 tackles, one sack, 4.5 tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery. Playing alongside ELF All-Stars Alejandro Fernandez and former NFL player Michael Sam, he helped form one of last season’s best defensive fronts.

The year prior, the 26-year-old Frenchman played in Germany for the Potsdam Royals putting up three tackles for a loss, one sack, and 17 total tackles in 11 games as the Royals reached the league semi-finals. 

A former Rugby player, Elio first started his American football career for the Eveil de Lyon. Elio quickly improved, becoming a regular for the French national team since 2014.

Elio is the latest of a flurry of French players joining Paris’s new ELF team, as head coach Marc Mattioli has already signed domestic talents Jason Aguemon (RB), Cheikhou Sow (WR), Remi Bertellin (WR), Mamadou Sy (DT), and offensive tackle Mamoudou Doumbouya. Complimenting the French talent will be 2021 ELF All-Star OL Fabian Kratz from Germany and the league’s leading receiver and teammate of Elio from the Barcelona Dragons, Kyle Sweet.

Watch Elio’s 2022 Highlights

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