Romania: Bucharest Rebels sign three of ELF’s biggest names

The Bucharest Rebels have made a splash in the Romanian football scene by signing three experienced import players. Rebels’ management snatched up three premiere players from the European League of Football whose regular season ended a couple of weeks ago.

WR/DB/KR Alpha Jalloh: Jalloh is a veteran in the European game making big plays all over the field in Germany, Sweden, and Finland over the past few seasons. The 6’2″, 205 pound Liberty University (NCAA D1) product will likely have an impact in all three phases of the game for the Rebels.

This past summer, Jalloh was one of the Leipzig Kings’ most versatile weapons scoring as a receiver, running, defender, and returner. That big-play ability and 10 total touchdowns earned him an ELF All-Star nod as a kick returner.

Running back Joc Crawford: the 33-year old Crawford makes his way to the Romanian capital after rushing for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns in the European League of Football.  The 6’1″, 245 pound veteran has had a long international career with stops in Finland, Brazil, and most recently Germany with the Berlin Thunder.

Before beginning his global career, the Memphis, Tennesse, native played for Kansas University (NCAA D1 FBS) and Tennesse Tech (NCAA D1 FCS).  Prior to joining the Kansas Jayhawks, Crawford was a Junior College All-American at Cisco (Texas) Junior College rushing for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns in his sophomore season.

QB Aaron Ellis: Ellis joins the defending Romanian league champions after throwing for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games with the Stuttgart Surge. The 6’3″, 215 pound quarterback product brings experience from Denmark’s top league before joining the Surge three games into their season.

Ellis replaced former Stuttgart Surge quarterback Jacob Wright who was released by the team after week two.

In college, Ellis played for the University of Saint Francis Fighting Saints (NAIA) in Joliet, Illinois where over two seasons he completed 153 of 283 passes for 2,380 yards and 27 touchdowns.

The Rebels are currently 1-0 in the Campionatul Național de Fotbal American (CNFA) and are hoping the new talent will lead to back-to-back championships.

The signing of these three talented imports directly inserts more talented into an already skilled Romanian football league. With this year’s September start, Romanian teams, and especially the Bucharest Rebels, have been able to bring in many first-time players into the league from all across Europe, as many other seasons have come to an end and players look to continue playing.