ELF: Stuttgart Surge sign QB Kenyatte Allen
The Stuttgart Surge have signed former Leipzig Kings quarterback Kenyatte Allen for the rest of the European League of Football season.
Allen replaces German national team quarterback Jan Weinreich and an injured Reilly Hennessey. Before the folding of the Kings, in five games Allen threw for 740 yards and four touchdowns.
Surge head coach Jordan Neuman:
“We knew from the beginning when Jan signed, that he would not be available during this time due to personal commitments made before he came out of retirement. Unfortunately, the timing is not great due to last weekend’s result because my wish would be for Jan to get another opportunity with us. But we knew this was coming and are so thankful to Jan for stepping in and helping lead us on such short notice. Jan is one of the best National QBs to ever play and it was great working with him the last three weeks. Moving forward we are very happy to have Kenyatte step in for us in this situation.
“We have coached against Kenyatte in the past and are very aware of what he is capable of. I’m looking forward to working with him and getting him ready to lead us at home in Gazi Stadion on Sunday!”
The 28 year-old Allen had come off a fantastic 2022 season with the Allgäu Comets of the German Football League before signing with Leipzig in the off season. 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.
Allen does not have much time to prepare for the next game as Stuttgart takes on the Barcelona Dragons at home on Sunday, July 23.
