Introducing the European League of Football’s Rookie Quarterbacks – Western Conference

| American Football | 05/03/2024

The European League of Football’s fourth season is only less than a month away, as 17 teams from nine counties will be battling for the ELF championship game on September 22nd.

This season will feature arguably the league’s most talented group of quarterbacks yet, as most of the league’s top passers return, along with nine new starting quarterbacks.

The Western Conference features only two quarterbacks who are new to the ELF as the Cologne Centurions and Hamburg Sea Devils will trot out new starting quarterbacks for the 2024 season. The Rhein Fire and Paris Musketeers will retain Jadrian Clark and Zach Edwards, while the Madrid Bravos and Frankfurt Galaxy opted for new quarterbacks with ELF experience under their belts.

Isaiah Weed – Cologne Centurions

While Cologne’s starting quarterback may be new to the ELF, he’s no stranger to European football. The 26-year-old dual-threat passer has spent time playing in the domestic leagues of Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Serbia over the past four seasons.

Last season, Weed led the Rostock Griffins to a 6-3 record in the GFL2 throwing for 2,534 yards and 32 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback also added 469 yards and eight scores on the ground.

The Euro-veteran suited up for the Kragujevac Wild Boars in the Serbian league in 2021 season. Following the season in Serbia, Weed played for the Hildesheim Invaders (GFL3) helping them win the third division. In 2022, Weed played for the Swarco Raiders of the Austrian Football League.

The 6’3 passer threw for over four thousand yards and 41 touchdowns over his college career at Minot State and Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NCAA DII). Now the veteran signal-caller hopes to make Cologne’s offense one of the league’s best along with new head coach Brandon Gregg and former NFL wide receiver Connor Weddington.


Javarian Smith – Hamburg Sea Devils 

Hamburg’s new quarterback is another passer coming to the ELF after an impressive season in the German Football League. Smith spent the 2023 season throwing for 3,494 yards and 44 touchdowns while showing off his speed by adding 9 touchdowns on the ground for the Allgäu Comets, helping them reach the playoffs. In week 11 of last year, Smith threw for 387 yards and seven touchdowns in one game.

Prior to the GFL, Smith spent a year playing in the Austrian Football League with the Prague Black Panthers. Despite playing barely over half the games, Smith ranked inside the top 10 in every passing stat, throwing for 1,863 yards (7th) and 19 touchdowns (7th) while recording just one interception.

Before coming to Europe in 2022, the 6’2  passer was a three-time all-conference player at Lake Erie College (NCAA II) passing for over 5,000 yards. He holds the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) all-time career completions record (432) and was a three-time All-GMAC selection. Smith also finished as second in Lake Erie history for passing yards, touchdowns, completions and total offense.

Now Smith hopes to build a connection with talented ELF veteran pass catchers Jarvis McClam and Theo Landstrom as the Sea Devils look to get back to the postseason under new head coach Matt Johnson.

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