The Kuopio Steelers who play in Finland’s Division 1 have signed quarterback Seth Peters.
The Steelers finished the 2016 season with a 4-4 record but with an improved passing attack intend to move up. The team had previously announced the signing of safety Justin Bell.
The 22-year-old Peters will graduate from Division III Hendrix College this spring after starting for all four of his seasons there. He owns all of the significant passing records at Hendrix. Peters threw for almost 10,000 yards, 85 touchdowns and just 20 interceptions during his college career. This past season Peters ranked first in completion percentage (73,9 %) in all of college football and second in passing efficiency (182.3) Division III.
To go along with his accurate throwing arm, Peters is also willing to use his legs. He rushed for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns during his career at Hendrix. In fact, in one game against previously undefeated Centre College this past season, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior singlehandedly dismantled the Colonels, rushing for an impressive 198 yards and a touchdown while completing 24-of-37 pass attempts for 308 yards and two touchdowns. All told, he accumulated 506 total yards of offense and led the Warriors to a 35-28 victory over the Colonels.
He was selected First Team All-SAA (Southern Athletic Association) for three years straight from 2014 to 2016, named SAA Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 and has also been named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll several times.
Tell us a little something about yourself and your football career up to this point.
Peters: I began playing football when I was 10 years old. I grew up playing football and it has always been a big part of my life. I played for the Greenbrier Panthers in high school and then transitioned to Hendrix College and continued playing there. I have loved every minute of it. Personally, I am a mathematics major that hopes to pursue medical statistics after college someday!
Why did you decide to go abroad to play and specifically why to Finland and the Steelers?
Peters: I have traveled to Europe once before and absolutely loved it. Being able to have the opportunity to go back to Europe and to play football is like a dream come true. Finland is an amazing country with very nice and genuine people. Finland is also extremely beautiful, getting to spend time there will be truly an incredible experience. Coach Pekka contacted me at first and was a very nice guy. He was very honest and straight forward, and I really appreciated that. The Steelers are a great program and the people involved are even better. I am looking forward to spending time in Finland and getting to know everyone at the Steelers organization!
Do you have any expectations for the 2017 season, for yourself personally and for the team?
Peters: As far as the up and coming season, I expect the Steelers to be the best team in the league! There looks to be some great Finnish players that will be the foundation for the team. With the addition of myself and Justin Bell, the team should be even stronger! I feel like we will be a very special team and definitely the team to watch out for this year!
Head Coach Pekka Utriainen is very happy with this new signing:
”Seth is everything we wanted, when we started looking for an offensive American import in the fall. The most important thing was to find a guy, who can both lift our level of play on as wide a scale as possible and also be a leader in the huddle and the practice field. Seth’s stats, film and personality are exactly what we ordered, and more.”
”With the previously published signing of Justin Bell, we are guaranteed to offer a great product for our home crowd. I believe Mr Peters is the first American quarterback in the pretty lengthy history of the Kuopio Steelers, so people should definitely come and see us. The ball is thrown very well and the man’s legs are definitely going to be poison for opposing defenses.
Check out Seth Peters highlights from the 2016 season.
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