Along with probably the most important addition — their new head coach Mike Mitchell — the Zagreb Patriots have made several serious additions that will help them in their first CEFL season.
The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Brandon Collier and running back Laurence Subelka.
The defensive lineman has been a high profile player in Europe and was an exceptional college player for U-Mass University in the United States. In Europe he played for the Vienna Vikings and was outstanding for them in the 2011 Season where he led the Austrian Football League in sacks and tackles for loss. He finished the season with 40 tackles 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles in 8 games before joining the Philadelphia Eagles preseason camp.
“He is what is considered an impact player and should contribute to the Patriots immediately”, says the Patriots’ coach Mitchell.
They also signed another impact player in another American, Laurence Subelka.
He played two seasons at the University of Louisiana at Monroe before transferring to Avila University in Kansas City Missouri. While at Avila Subelka was part of a RB tandem that amassed 2242 rushing yards and 14 TDs. Subelka was the power portion of the RB duo and rushed for 912 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. Subelka also added 133 yards and 3 scores receiving.
Since college Subelka has played two seasons for a semi-pro team in Kansas City where he led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns both seasons.
The Patriots were also joined by a, safe to say CEFL veteran, defensive back Filip Vezmar, who has until now played for the Novi Sad Dukes and also a season in Budapest for the Wolves. Youngster, but also with CEFL experience, then quarterback Luka Alaupović, joins the team after spending two years in the US. He made his CEFL debut in 2008 with the Thunder when he was only 16.