If there is something that stands out about Spain in the European football landscape are their skill players, such as Jordi Torrededia (newly acquired Wide Receiver for the Dresden Monarchs), Mario Flores (Bravos Wide Receiver), the Brugnani brothers (Barcelona Dragons), Toni Montón (Barcelona Dragons Running Back), Roque Alarcón (Valencia Firebats Wide Receiver) and many more. With them, each and every year new diamonds appear to stand out from all over the national teams. The new generation is stepping strong and this is a list about underrated young skill players from each of the LNFA Serie A teams that everyone should keep an eye on.
DISCLAIMER
There are a lot of young players not included on this list who meet the requirements but they are already well known and established in the Spanish football community and even are part of the National Team. Some of them are the already mentioned Jordi Torrededía (21 years old), Jorge García Vargas (Black Demons and Bravos Wide Receiver), Edu Pérez (Osos and Bravos Wide Receiver), Álvaro Cansinos (Black Demons and Bravos Defensive Back), Daniel Romero (Black Demons and Bravos Running Back), Iván García (Camioneros de Coslada Wide Receiver), etc.
Alekxander Araujo, Defensive Back
Alcobendas Cavaliers
Alekxander Araujo is a true game disruptor of a Defensive Back. He is 19 and has been playing for 11 years, making him the longest tenured player on this list. Originally is from Panamá, but has been playing here in Spain for the last two years while studying in college. His first year was with the Serie B team Pinto Goldbats, and now he’s made the jump to the Serie A with the Alcobendas Cavaliers.
As a player, Araujo stands out because of his physicality and aggressive way to play the game. In his first year in the league, he’s been making noise as one of the defensive backs that hit the hardest, something that he has proved on repeated occasions as his primary position is nickel back and stopping the run is one of his specialties, but without leaving aside that he will stick to his receiver like glue and will not give an inch of separation thanks to his efficient cuts and hip play. Another one of his assets is his extremely high football IQ due to the fact that in his long 11 years playing he has been all over the field, offense, defense and special teams, excelling in each and every one of them.
Of all the players that will be reviewed on this list, Araujo is the only one that can say that he’s been drafted as he was selected with the first pick of the second round in the Kiwanis Football League (the best football league in Panamá) drafted by the Los Brader Raiders and then traded to the Kiwanis Kolts (oldest football program in Panamá) before coming to Spain to study. During his time with the Kolts, he received the revelation player award in the 2022 season. It is important to highlight that he’s been selected by the Panamanian U20 National Team to play in the World Championship this summer. Everyone should keep an eye on #5 for the Cavaliers every game as he continues to make a name for himself in this country.
Eric Ladero, Wide Receiver
Badalona Dracs
Eric Ladero is only 19 years old and is the player with less experience playing football on this list (just one full year of organized football under his belt). Despite that, he is probably one of the young players making the most noise on the Spanish scene.
Before football, he played water polo almost all his life, which has helped him meet the physical requirements of football and excel right away on that aspect. Quickly he has become one of the top targets of the Badalona Dracs in one of the most stacked national receiving corps in the entire country. Ladero is the definition of a big body receiver who will come down with the ball in the most difficult situations, doesn´t matter if it's double or triple coverage, his strong hands will make a 50/50 ball turn into an 80/20 ball whenever the quarterback throws his way. Adding to his strength, his smooth route running and speed shouldn't be underestimated.
Among his achievements on this year of football he has played, we highlight some great performance in two finals, the Catalan Cup, where he was named MVP, and the Spanish Cup final against Black Demons (reigning champions of every major tackle tournament in Spain), where he had an stellar performance with 11 catches for 183 yards and 2 TDs.
Look out for Ladero as he continues to cement himself a name and be one of the most special young Wide Receivers we have seen in some time.
Luca Rusca, Wide Receiver/Safety
Barcelona Pagesos
Luca Rusca is a 24 year old Wide Receiver and Safety for the newly promoted to the Serie A Barcelona Pagesos. It is his 6th year playing football, all of them for the Pagesos.
If you have to describe Rusca as a player, you definitely use the word “versatile”. He is the only player on this list who currently is playing on both sides of the ball, and he is balling out in both. Luca is one of the most valuable national assets for the Pagesos, standing out as a sure handed pass catcher whose vision and electric playmaking ability gives him the capacity of being a game changer. Another one of his strengths is the intensity he plays with, making him an extremely dangerous player after the catch that never goes down with the first contact.
His performance on the field last season was key for a well rounded and structured Pagesos team to win the Serie B Championship, which led to the team´s first ever promotion to the first division.
Iván López “Terry”, Quarterback
Camioneros de Coslada
Iván López, also known as Terry, is the only quarterback on this list and one of the top young prospects in Spain. He is 19 years old, but has 9 years of experience, primarily as a quarterback, but also a little bit as a defensive lineman, something almost never seen.
Despite his young age, as a first year Senior, he is the quarterback 1 of Coslada´s team. His strengths as a passer are his touch on the ball, arm strength, deep ball ability, his toughness and presence in the pocket, and being able to break multiple tackles of defensive linemen and linebackers before touching the ground. His physical style and playmaking ability is reminiscent of Big Ben Roethlisberger's own game style.
In his already long tenured career, he has played at the top Junior level of Spain for many years, even being selected to the Junior National Team where he split snaps as a quarterback and defensive linemen in the games he appeared. Something to highlight in his career is that in his Junior years he attracted heavy interest as a Quarterback from the European powerhouse and D1 players producer NFL Academy, even being invited to fly to England for the Academy´s combine.
In his first season as the Senior quarterback 1 for the Camioneros, he has thrown 7 TDs, run for another, and led his team to a 2-1 record.
Iván Bravo Díaz, Safety
Gijón Mariners
Iván Bravo is only 19 years old, but has been playing for 8 years already. His principal position is safety but one of his main strengths is his versatility, being able to rotate on almost every position of the defense, and when needed, step up on offense too.
This is thanks to a great set of hands that turns him into a ballhawk. But if we have to talk about his strengths, this season he is making a huge impact on the Mariners thanks to his tackling ability, consolidating himself probably as one of the best tacklers in the league.
Despite being so young he has become one of the captains of Gijón, and due to the already mentioned tackling ability, Bravo has become a specialist in stopping the run with one of the highest average number of tackles per game. You can say he resembles Minkah Fitzpatrick´s game style.
In his career he was called up for the Junior National Team three times: against Italy, Belgium and the Czech Republic last year, showing flashes of what he is capable of on the international stage. Definitely, if you want to see some big tackles and a passionate player on the field, you gotta check out Mariners’ #27.
Alvaro Molano, Wide Receiver
Las Rozas Black Demons
Alvaro Molano is a Wide Receiver for Las Rozas Black Demons. He is 20 years old and with a background in soccer, he made the jump to football just two years ago, but he has for sure made the most of It.
In terms of his specialties, he is a big strong receiver who also has quickness, a very polished technique, a special talent to disguise between defenders, and always find the soft spots of the defense. Another big tool of his game is that he has a secure pair of hands that guarantee that he's going to come down with the ball in the most clutch moments.
Three games into the season Molano has 10 catches for 175 yards and 4 TDs, which shows the red zone threat that he is. Despite being in one of the most loaded national receiving corps with names such as Jorge García Vargas, Jorge García Valcarcel or Jesús Pérez, Molano has been able to make a place for himself and stand out so far this season and show flashes of what he is capable to do.
With his mindset and the great players and coaches he is surrounded by, Álvaro Molano it's going to make people talk about him. With so much years left to play, #81 in black is only getting started.
Oriol Adriá Lombarte, Running Back
L´Hospitalet Pioners
If you think about a horsecollar running back with the leg strength of a truck, you gotta think of Oriol Adriá. Only 20 years old, 3 playing football, and he has already had a stint with the Barcelona Dragons of the European League of Football, being on the Practice Squad this past season.
Oriol started his career back with the Barcelona Uroloki, actually in the Catalan regional league, and has recently decided to make the jump to the first division with the Pioners, where he is already making head moves. Among his strengths are his lower trunk force, his reaction speed and his vision, and being able to read and hit the hole efficiently every time he touches the ball.
One of the assets of his game is his capacity to gain yards even when nobody in the stadium thinks he can, always gaining 3, 4 or 5 yards after contact, being able to carry multiple defenders without going to the ground. Putting this into perspective, this past Spanish Cup he had an average of 7,7 yards per carry, so next time you see Adriá, he will be probably running for a first down with one or two defenders on his shoulders.
Pascal Sendelbach, Cornerback
Mallorca Voltors
Originally from Berlin, Pascal Sendelbach moved to Mallorca at a very young age, where he has been playing football for more than 3 years. Now only at 19 years old, he is a cornerstone in the Voltors’ defense, being one of the most physical Defensive backs in the entire eastern conference. In addition, he has a very secure leg, being the team's kicker.
If you have to describe Pascal’s game style, it is that he hits hard big time. Play after play he is an expert in punishing receivers, whether it's destroying blocks, tackling hard or sticking to them like there is no tomorrow, especially on the deep routes.
Despite being so young, he has accolades such as being part of the first ever generation of the Barcelona Dragons Academy where he developed his game with top notch coaches and then was part of the Barcelona Dragons active roster this past summer measuring against big time name receivers such as Markell Castle.
Pascal has a bright future ahead of himself and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a breakout season in Europe sooner than later.
Pablo Olivares, Wide Receiver
Osos de Rivas
Pablo Olivares is a receiver for the Osos de Rivas who is playing his first season in the Spanish Serie A after spending his first years with the Pinto Golbats of the Serie B. He is the only player on this list with experience abroad in another European country, as he played last season for the UNC Crusaders of the Finnish Maple League.
Olivares is 25 years old and has been playing this sport for the last 3 years. Despite his limited experience, playing in one of the most competitive leagues in Europe as it is the Maple League has taught him immeasurable professional-like mindset and knowledge with top notch players in the continent.
That probably has helped a lot with his game as a primarily slot receiver, which stands out thanks to his sharp route running and being extremely efficient in and out of his breaks giving the defense no time to react and creating separation consistently. In addition to that, he is a dangerous deep threat due to his speed and agility that are at the level of the top players in the league, making him stand out in a well known receiving core as it is the Osos one with names such as Edu Pérez or Iván Iordanov.
Alonso Muñoz, Cornerback
Zaragoza Hurricanes
Alonso Muñoz is the definition of a lockdown corner. The 21 year old young baller has been playing for 6 years, every one of them in Zaragoza.
He has a background at the quarterback position, which has helped him become a reading machine. He is probably one of the most resonant young players in the entire country, known for being a technician who is used to facing the best receivers in the league, being able to put them on his own island repeatedly.
Alonso may not be the biggest player on the field, but he has the “it” factor. His extremely high football IQ, efficient breaks and technique, and experience at the national top level since his Junior years have made him an all around player, able to disrupt every game and be a game changer for the Hurricanes. He is for sure someone to keep in mind for every Offensive Coordinator that has to game plan against Zaragoza.
Among his stats this season, Alonso may be one with the best on this list, being able to put up 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 3 pass breakups and 4 tackles for loss in just three games.
Alonso Muñoz is definitely one of the players to follow for the future in Spain and the whole European football landscape as he for sure will make a lot of noise outside the Spanish frontiers once he gets his opportunity. Check out the Alonso Muñoz Interview by Jesús Sánchez Sanvi to learn more about this young star.
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