ELF: Berlin Thunder sign ex-CFL Global LB/DE David Izinyon
The Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football have signed former CFL player David Izinyon.
The British linebacker was scooped up by Germany’s capital city ELF team shortly after his release from the CFL. Izinyon brings experience from Canada as well as several years playing in Germany, Poland, Finland, and his home country of England.
The physical defender was selected by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with the 26th overall pick in the most recent CFL Global Draft after a remarkable combine performance. Prior to signing in the CFL, the 27-year-old played linebacker internationally for the Rostock Griffins of the German Football League racking up 272 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, eight forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, and one interception in two seasons. Izinyon also played for the Tychy Falcons of Poland and the Hämeenlinna Huskies in Finland’s top division.
The London native first played football for the University of Surrey and the London Warriors in the British Premier League. Izinyon also represented Great Britain as a key member of the national team’s linebacker core. Before finding American football at the age of 18, Izinyon was already tackling opponents as a physical rugby player. Now he hopes his journey to the CFL will be able to inspire other British players to chase their football dreams.
In early 2020, Izinyon impressed at the CFL Global Combine in England, earning an invite to Toronto’s CFL Combine. However, the pandemic forced the cancelation of the combine and the entire 2020 CFL season. Izinyon patiently waited for his next chance. Now more than a year later, it seems as if that patience has paid off, as Izinyon and Hamilton look to make a late-season push and secure a playoff spot.
The 2022 ELF defensive rookie of the year: David Izinyon Berlin Thunder…@AFIReview @drmackenzie1991 @David_Izinyon @BER_Thunder https://t.co/DV3r7UW42c
— EuroballChow (@euroballchow) June 13, 2022
