Norwegian quarterback Alek Torgersen signs with the Atlanta Falcons

Before the 2017 NFL Draft, Alek Torgersen was ranked among the 10-15 best quarterbacks available. Although he didn’t get drafted, Torgersen signed with the Atlanta Falcons almost immediately after the draft had concluded.

Alek Torgersen becomes the second Norwegian to sign for the Atlanta Falcons, following in the footsteps of Bernt Rognstad.

Torgersen, whose father is from the city of Drammen, Norway, has grown up in California and played his college football at the University of Pennsylvania (Ivy League, NCAA FCS), where he was a three year starter and set multiple records. With a 66.9% completion percentage during the 2016 season as well as 17 touchdowns compared to just 4 interceptions, Torgersen caught the eye of many NFL scouts searching for ‘the next Carson Wentz‘. Add to that Torgersen’s 8 rushing touchdowns, and you have a player worth checking out even for teams in the world’s best football league.

Alek Torgersen has good size at close to 6’3″ and 230 pounds, enough speed and athletic ability to play in a zone-read offense at Penn, and a good arm. Specifically, his skills at throwing short and intermediate passes with great velocity and accuracy was considered among the best in the 2017 draft class.

However, it still didn’t get him an invite to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but an invite to the East-West Shrine Game gave Torgersen an opportunity to showcase his skills – which he promptly did. Torgersen was among the better performers during the East-West Shrine Game, which was essential for getting enough interest that 17 NFL teams showed up a few weeks later for his Pro Day.

Granted, playing in Penn’s zone-read offense may not be ideal for transitioning directly into an NFL offense, but in Torgersen the Falcons have secured a 22-year old QB who’s also shown his ability to absorb new information – studying at an Ivy League school where he’s been doing well both on and off the field.

Add to that two Ivy League football championships, and Torgersen is an intriguing prospect that could potentially secure a roster spot. In front of him are two quarterbacks; starter Matt Ryan and backup Matt Schaub. They’ll be 32 and 36 by the time training camp rolls around, and getting someone younger into the mix as an insurance may be a useful move for the Falcons.

It is obviously likely that the Atlanta Falcons will also sign other quarterbacks to their roster during the upcoming months, so it’s not a guarantee that Torgersen makes the roster. But for now he’ll be able to throw to French receiver Anthony Dablé while protected by Danish offensive tackle Andreas Knappe.

The NFL is going international, indeed!