Squads across Europe set to break from the huddle and play football

The DODEA-Europe football scene made big changes ahead of the 2025 season with the creation of three tiers – 11-man, nine-man and six-man.

Those leagues return for 2026 but with more teams.

The 11-man tier will be the same eight squads with Naples and Vicenza joining the six Division I schools.

A major power shift has happened this year, however.

Stuttgart was moved into the North conference with the likes of Ramstein, Kaiserslautern and Lakenheath. The Panthers and Royals have claimed every European crown in either the old Division I or 11-man tier since 2014, with Stuttgart winning in 2025 in convincing fashion.

The last team outside of those two to claim a title, Wiesbaden in 2013, has shifted to the South conference, where the Warriors will face off with Naples, Vilseck and Vicenza.

The Wildcats proved themselves up to the task in their first season against D-I schools, pushing Ramstein in the semifinals last year.

The 9-man league will be the same as last year, with the Spanish and Italian squads hoping to end the Benelux’s stranglehold on the title in the tier’s first two campaigns.

After one year with just three teams, the six-man division will be much stronger. Joining defending champion Spangdahlem, Baumholder and Alconbury are Hohenfels, Brussels and Ansbach, all of which didn’t have squads last year.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown, based on coaches’ responses:

11-man

North

Kaiserslautern

Last year, the Raiders only lost to the two teams that reached the final – Stuttgart and Ramstein.

They will have four chances to get wins over those squads this season, although second-year coach Jason Steadman will hope his young squad will grow quickly to meet that challenge.

Stepping in at quarterback is senior Daniel Carroll. Also lining up in the backfield is junior Marcus Ferestad.

Carroll has numerous options in the passing game, beginning with wide receivers Lukas Hilburn, Jalen Newkirk and Lachlann Scott. He also has two big targets at tight end with seniors Garrett Vitter and Mason Stephenson, the latter of whom is moving from the offensive line.

Steadman described the offensive line as young with loads of talent. Seniors Alex McBride and Joseph Joines lead the way with junior returner Ozius Gafa, freshman Rex Minor and Jesse James.

Vitter and Gafa play on both sides of the ball and will lead the defensive trenches along with Jordan Smith. Senior Jamaal Redd will man the middle linebacker spot.

Lakenheath

The Lancers are going through a youth movement, and coach Gabe Feletar said he hopes those players will be able to handle the gauntlet in the North.

Lakenheath turns to junior Oskar Feletar and freshman Grayson Ellis at quarterback. Also in the backfield will be a pair of juniors in Andrew Gager Clark and Freddie Saelua.

Feletar and Ellis will have plenty of weapons on the outside. It starts with sophomore Lamart Overton, seniors Hunter Winkler and Adam Chromey, sophomores J.D. Negron and Kaden Mares, and junior Connor Martin.

Senior Josiah Gibson and juniors John Westad and Lucas Jaime will anchor the trenches on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, Martin, Winkler, Chromey and senior Sutton Blackwell give the linebacking corps plenty of experience.

Overton, Gager Clark, Negron and Mares will man the Lancer secondary.

Ramstein

There’s a new sheriff in charge of DODEA-Europe’s biggest program.

Gone is longtime coach Carter Hollenbeck, as well as many of his assistants. In steps Justin Crawford, who has more than 20 years of experience under his belt in Kentucky, West Virginia and on the Ramstein staff.

The Royals lost a good group of players to graduation and PCS, but Crawford said they also gained players who should contribute from the get-go.

Ramstein should be defined by sound fundamentals, good communication and explosive plays, Crawford said.

At quarterback, the Royals have a familiar face in Xavier Schumacher. The junior won the starting position last season and completed 60 percent of his passes. His coach said the signal caller made big mental strides over the offseason, and that should lead to big things on the field.

Described as a “Swiss Army knife,” senior Lincoln Bump will line up under center in special packages. Sophomores Michael Pierce and Konner Wilson-Roy add depth at QB.

Expect another running-back-by-committee approach for Ramstein this season. It starts with Elijah Morris, the sole veteran contributor from last season who brings a physical running style combined with vision and balance. Fellow seniors Lukas Bali and Khalil Franklin will see carries as well.

Senior Rhett Dalling and junior Connor Scott are the returning receiving leaders who accounted for more than 50 percent of Schumacher’s 2025 targets. They should stretch defenses. Bump, seniors Javian Swanson, Adam Izaguirre and Owen Benson and junior Jake Beckenhauer add versatility to the group.

Senior Kevin Joyce and junior Kaeden Edwards are back to anchor the offensive line, while Moses Miranda will step into a more expansive role for his senior campaign. Seniors Carson Myers and Josh Black, juniors Kyle Helphenstine and James Dexter and sophomore Chase Townsend bring athleticism to the unit.

The defensive side of the ball was decimated by departures, as the Royals graduated 11 of their top 15 tacklers from last season. Yet Crawford expressed his expectation that defenders will fly to the ball.

Joyce is the lone veteran on the defensive line. Senior Carson Habas and junior Gabriel Harrington are high-motor rushers who are expected to set the edge alongside Helphenstine, Townsend, Black, Myers and Dexter.

The second and third levels have a lot of veteran presence in Bali, Bump, Dalling and Giovanni Jimenez. New are Beckenhauer, Franklin, senior Messiah Garcia, and juniors Jackson Norris, Carson Kubalek and Nijel Johnson-Dwyer.

Bump will handle placekicking. The senior has expanded his field-goal range thanks to gains in the weight room.

He will split punting duties with Beckenhauer.

Dalling brings his game-changing ability as a returner. The senior should be a threat to take it to the house every time, as shown when he opened the second half of the 2024 Division I championship game with an 89-yard kick return for a score.

South

Naples

After years of dominating the old Division II, the Wildcats proved themselves capable of not only hanging against bigger schools but also thriving. They went 4-2 and gave Ramstein a scare with a late surge in the semifinals last year.

In his 10th season in charge, coach Jim Davis said the goal is to take the next step.

Kamryn McKinnon steps under center after winning the job last season. Senior Terry Herbert returns to lead the running backs, and fellow senior Tyler Jones and junior Dylan Kim will join him in the backfield.

McKinnon has a few weapons on the outside in seniors Harold Rice and Ryan Mumby. Freshman Nigel Ferguson also will see minutes at wideout.

The offensive line will turn to seniors Kingston Miller and Nathaniel Moriarty to lead the way. Junior Aden Lafontaine and sophomore Elijah Bofman are expected to handle key roles.

On defense, senior Nico Calvo and junior Hayden Schmall are expected to be menaces on the line, while Herbert, Mumby, Jonest and Kim make up the linebacker corps.

Rice and junior Jerryn Cade are major players in the defensive backfield.

Sophomore Gabriel Brown and Jace Upton will handle most of the special teams’ duties.

Vilseck

It was just a couple of seasons ago when the Falcons were the cream of the crop, finishing runner-up three straight times to Stuttgart.

Vilseck is seeking to return to those heights under new coach David Nichols, who said he will be leaning on a core group of veterans.

Nichols pointed to seniors Zeke Herron, Elijah Smith and Brett Edelman as tone setters. Herron and Smith provide experience and stability in the trenches, while Edelman will lead at receiver and defensive back.

The Falcons will have a new signal caller in Landon Smith. The junior brings leadership and experience from playing in the state of Washington. Sophomore Finn Nichols will back up Smith.

The running back group will be full of two-way players. Juniors Charlie Hamako, Jack Tabacchi and Sean Fuentes and sophomore Marion Oliver will be in the offensive backfield and at linebacker.

Junior Sedric McGibboney is set for kicking and punting duties as well as toting the rock.

Joining Brett Edelman at wideout and in the secondary are his younger brother, sophomore Brayden, and junior Manuel Carrasco.

Senior Christian Villa returns on the offensive line, while Maddie Seitkali adds veteran presence on the defensive line.

Nichols said the Falcons also will try to develop a promising group of underclassmen to help the program return to prominence.

Wiesbaden

Under first-year coach Joe Lipscombe, the Warriors are taking their talents south in hopes that will return them to the playoffs.

The quarterback room is deep this fall. Campton Moschgat won the starting job after impressing the coaching staff with the work he put in on the field and in the film room, as well as his leadership skills.

Senior Jacob Bruce and sophomore Samuel Erickson will back him up. Freshmen Daniel Carter and Hunter Bauer add talent and athleticism to the QB room.

Senior Alexander Varela is poised for a breakout campaign at running back. Mark Mania and Javelle Ortiz will split time behind Varela, and Lipscombe explained how eager the two are to make an impact.

Lipscombe called the wide receiver/tight end group one of the Warriors’ most exciting units. As he showcased in the spring with his 100- and 200-meter European crowns, senior Michael Dozier’s speed could lead to big plays on the gridiron.

Fellow senior Liam Ortiz’s versatility will allow Wiesbaden to deploy him in various gadget scenarios, and Michael Tate will stretch the field vertically.

Transfers Wyatt Smith from Vilseck and Taj Bart from Stuttgart are expected to use their speed and playmaking abilities to carve out important roles. Christopher Galvez Jr. adds more depth to an already deep group.

The offensive line is full of big boys, such as newcomers Dante Evans and Tyler Kimball, Nathan Deich, senior veteran Maurice Jones, senior multi-sport athlete Oliver Schoch and McKinley Karwowska.

On the defensive line, Tate and senior Matthew Dewey lead the way, while Valentino Moss is a rookie looking to impact the game.

Senior Sage Kleisner is the heart of the defense at linebacker and newcomers Dwain Hinman and Brandon Moss will flank him.

Daniel Carter and Ryley Halbrook will lead the Warriors’ secondary.

Ortiz, meanwhile, will have a big role on special teams.

Nine-man

AFNORTH

The Lions have three-straight runners-up finishes under their belts, and coach James Argyle said the goal this year is to get over that hump and bring home a championship.

To do so, AFNORTH will bank on a strong core of veterans and talented newcomers via PCS. As long as the Lions stay healthy and develop depth, Argyle expressed his belief they have the talent to claim a title.

Senior Shawn Downs steps under center this season. Last year’s starter, senior Sladen Hager, and junior Victor Turcotte are versatile athletes who could see snaps at QB.

Seniors Eren Ayik and Andri-Mart Vendla gave AFNORTH a good one-two punch at running back. Junior Carlos Trujillo Rincon, senior Kristoffer Normand and Hager also will get rushing attempts this fall.

Senior veteran Leonard Boudreau should be one of the team’s top targets. Sophomore transfer Joshua Go will provide another weapon at tight end.

Returners Bradley Dowling and Logan Ranger will anchor the offensive line at guard. Freshman James Ramos and senior Tom Schack, in his first season playing, will compete for significant playing time.

On the defensive side, Normand is AFNORTH’s best returning lineman. Go and fellow sophomore transfer Xavier Clark have the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact.

Hager is expected to lead the defense at linebacker. Senior transfer Tyson Brodsky will be counted upon at the position, while several newcomers are competing for playing time behind them.

In the defensive backfield, sophomore Christopher Herrera and Turcotte will start at safety after being key pieces last fall. The cornerbacks are young, beginning with sophomore Thomas Sheink and freshman Tristan Meeks.

Aviano

The Saints have a young squad in 2026, and new coach Jason Stanley praised his players’ heart and work ethic as the coaching staff installs a faster and more disciplined style of play.

The question is whether that will lead to positive results on the field.

Junior Briley Hillis started at quarterback last season, and fellow junior Noah Stanley is in the running under center.

At running back, sophomore Cooper Oakley started last year, and senior Bayron Nomura Cerron also brings back experience. Freshman Ryder Westbrook and senior Prince Asaeli will see time in the backfield.

Aviano has plenty of targets at wideout. Hillis and senior Marshall Ervin are returning starters, while sophomore Kamdyn Beck and junior Kayden Thomas also bring back experience.

Sophomores Logan Lawicki, Nathan Marks and Hyeonseong Kim round out the group.

The offensive line has just one starter back in sophomore Roman Esser. He will lead a young unit that has just two upperclassmen in senior veteran Brayden Lancaster and junior newcomer Carter Riggs.

Sophomores Matteo Macconi, Adonis Rojas and Koen Reyes saw playing time last year. Sophomore Isaac Canaan and freshmen Patrick Henry Jr. and Liam Grace will get their opportunities.

The defensive line has a pair of returning starters in Ervin and Rojas. Lancaster, Esser and Beck also saw time on the field in 2025. Westbrook, Canaan, Riggs, Henry Jr. and Grace will push to see the field.

The linebacking corps is young yet experienced. Three sophomores will lead the way, with returner starters Oakley and Macconi and veteran Reyes.

The secondary has some upperclassman leadership. Hillis and Nomura Cerron both started last year, and Thomas also got experience. Kim, Lawicki, Marks and Asaeli round out the unit.

On special teams, expect to see Lawicki, Hillis and Kim.

International School of Brussels

After 23 years without a title, the Raiders brought home DODEA European silverware by winning the nine-man division in 2025.

Half that roster graduated, and a few others moved away from Brussels or got injured playing other sports. Coach Lee Rosky said ISB will be scrappy as it must rely on young and inexperienced players.

In the Raiders’ corner is Max Ball at quarterback. The senior enters his third year as signal caller, and he will set the tone offensively.

That’s especially the case because the running back spot is a mystery. Rosky said the group has a lot of competition, and rookie George Johnson has stood out in practice.

Ball’s main passing targets look to be Freddie Schmidt in the slot and David Valstar at tight end.

Both lines have a combination of a rookie and a veteran anchoring them. On offense, Mason Ruano joins senior Lochlan Campbell, while on defense, J.M. Le Roux will line up at nose guard and senior Rares Caciuleanu at defensive end.

Terry Koo provides senior leadership as a three-year starter at linebacker.

Senior William Feldmayer will lead a young secondary that includes Charlie Feldmeyer, Luke Goldie, Lincoln Edgington and Greyson Anderson.

As well as being quarterback, Ball will act as the Raiders’ placekicker.

Rota

Coach Luke Spencer has a good group of returners that could help to the squad taking a step forward.

Junior Xavier Lozada steps in at quarterback for the Admirals. Junior Donnell Evans, senior Ethan Xie and sophomore Leland Colangan will join Lozada in the backfield at running back.

Senior Romero Johnson and sophomore Lucca Guido lead the receiver corps.

Seniors Christian Cervantes and Shane Nowak anchor both sides of the line yet again. Senior Leo McFarland and Xie add veteran presence at linebacker. Johnson and sophomore Kolton McCarver will man the secondary, while McFarland will feature on special teams.

Sigonella

The Jaguars struggled during their first season in nine-man football. And they could be in for more in 2026.

Coach Shannon Burcham said seven freshmen will get playing time, which is the same number of seniors on the squad. Just five of those seniors – Kalem Lawrence, Gage Keck, Joaquin Duron, Manuel Tamayo and Braeden Fleming – are returners.

Only two players, Duron and junior Lucca Deshazer, have been with the program for more than one season.

Keck and Lawrence will line up at quarterback. Lawrence also will see time at running back with Tamayo and Donald Cousins.

Fleming, Deshazer, Mason Lundy, Lawrence and Keck all could see time at wide receiver.

On the offensive line, expect to see Duron, Tristan Duck, Drew Davis and Carter Hitchcock. Duron will anchor the defensive line with Monyae Gupton, Emmanuel Brodsky, Matthew Merritt, Hitchcock and Elijah Calleja.

Tamayo, Cousins, Keck and Lundy will line up at linebacker, while Lawrence, Fleming, Deshazer, Andrew Gomez and Will Vetsch will roam the defensive backfield.

Fleming will play a role on special teams.

Six-man

Alconbury

Coach Steve Casner foresees a rebuilding year for the Dragons after they finished runner-up in 2025.

Freshman Gabriel Odom will step in at quarterback. He will have experience with him in the backfield via seniors Daniel Scavola and Andrew Barbee and junior Darion Payton at running back.

Odom and freshman Ben Weiker could build a QB-receiver combination for the future.

Senior Thomas Flynn will be a mainstay on both sides of the trenches. Junior Evan Houser will join him on the offensive line, while Payton will line up on the defensive line.

Scavola and Barbee bring leadership at linebacker. Weiker and freshman Noah Bigbey will lead an inexperienced defensive backfield.

Weiker will punt and Barbee will kick on special teams.

Baumholder

The Buccaneers have numerous new faces from the squad that went 1-3 last year, according to coach Chris Schoonover, those newcomers will have a huge impact this season.

The coach also praised his players’ versatility and their willingness to play different positions.

Dewayne Washington enters his fourth season as the signal caller. Junior Jaylon Bilbrew brings electricity as the running back, while freshman Anthony Fotopoulos and sophomore Levi Munyengwe round out the backfield.

Freshman Chris Bowden and junior Travis Eline give Baumholder a good one-two punch at receiver. Freshmen Emmitt Kennedy and Allen Vaughn and sophomore Tim Steadmon Jr. also will get some reps.

On the offensive line, sophomore Hector Baldo returns for his second season at center. Fellow sophomore Triston McCormick will man the guard/tackle role, while freshman Pene Vaisagote will play wherever needed on the line.

Those three plus Bowden and Eline will lead the defensive line. Fotopoulos, Bilbrew, junior Justin Velez Benitez, freshman Sebastian Irizarry and Kennedy make up the linebacker corps.

Munyengwe, Washington and freshman Joseph Velez Benitez should see the most time in the secondary.

Vaisagote will take over kicking duties this campaign.

Brussels

The Brigands haven’t played a football game since Sept. 28, 2024, when injuries shortened their season.

The program is back nearly two years later. Brussels will begin its gridiron rebirth Friday when it hosts Ansbach, another team that had injuries end its 2024 campaign and took last year off.

The numbers are up in the Belgian capital, with new students filling out the roster.

Only one player has suited up for Brussels before on the gridiron: senior Glen Laurenzi. The linebacker is expected to bring leadership and hard hits from the middle of the defense.

The new Brigands are juniors Soren Guevara, Ali Huseynzada and Luke Young; sophomores Ezekiel Bastian, Kier Cook, Kelton Neal, Petar Pranjic, Cian Richard, Kenneth Watson and Dominic Young; and freshmen Nick Ciccione and Evan Slack.

Hohenfels

The Tigers are back after missing out in 2025. Coach Robert Deverick said his players are eager to bring the sport back to their neck of Bavaria.

Just two players are still left from the 2024 Hohenfels team – seniors Logan Mitchell and Cory Taylor. Those two are co-captains as well as Ezekial Davenport and Kamren Newsome.

Davenport, Taylor and Stryder Houghton are expected to see time at quarterback. Mitchell, Sean Reyes, Davenport, Noah Henry, Nate Reyes and senior Matthew Stellfox make up the running back group.

Newsome, Taylor, Josiah Smith, Collin Jones and Lilliana Scott will see time at wide receiver.

Hohenfels has plenty of options up front. On the offensive line, the team will turn to Kevin Piotrowski, Joseph Filonczuk, Reyes, Tony Flores, Zialeirys Rivera Fontanez and Corban McCullough.

On defense, Reyes, Jameson Trotter, Jones, Flores, Rivera Fontanez, Piotrowski and Filonczuk make up the line.

Davenport, Mitchell and Reyes will play linebacker, while Newsome, Taylor, Houghton, Smith and Stellfox will see time in the defensive backfield.

Stellfox and Houghton will handle placekicking duties for the Tigers.

Spangdahlem

The defending champions are looking to reload after clinching their second European title in three seasons.

The Sentinels have three options at QB – Adler Armstrong, Solomon Wells and Jeremiah Tulloss. A.J. Smith, Marshall Newton, Nehemiah Smith and Noah Aubuchon will see time at tailback.

Roman Wells, Jason Tyler, Bryce Servais and Brody McVey will lead Spangdahlem at wideout.

Nik Bryington and Kiriel Dulin will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Malachi Murray and Romeo Wheeler will pace the defense at linebacker, and Bryce Servais will lead the secondary.

Solomon Wells and McVey will play key roles on special teams.