ELF: Berlin Thunder sign defensive player of the year DE Kyle Kitchens

| American Football | 11/13/2021

The Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football have signed defensive end Kyle Kitchens.

Kitchens Joins a Thunder team after winning ELF defensive play of the in 2021 while playing for the Leipzig Kings. Berlin Thunder head coach Johnny Schmuck on signing the league’s premiere pass rusher:

“To get the Defensive Player of the Year in Kyle Kitchens on our roster makes me extremely excited because it once again underlines our ambition for the upcoming season. He shares our vision and believes in our program and that makes us really proud”

The 6’2, Decator Georgia native led the ELF with 12.5 sacks last season. His pass-rushing success combined with his 39 solo tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles made him the league’s inaugural defensive player of the year.

Before joining the ELF, Kitchens led the German Football League in sacks in 2019 racking up 16 sacks, 31 tackles for a loss, and 76 total tackles for the Potsdam Royals. Kitchens also played professionally in the United States as part of the Fan–Controlled–Football League, and The Spring League.

As a collegiate player Kitchens was a three-time All-American at Catawba College (NCAA D2) in North Carolina. During his time with the Indians, Kitchens broke the school’s career sack record taking down the opposing passers 38 times. His best season came in 2017, as the senior had 12.5 sacks.

Watch Kyle Kitchens 2021 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