Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders sign Serbian WR Strahinja Stepovic

AFI | American Football | 02/18/2021

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

Swedish reigning champions, the Carlstad Crusaders, have signed one of the most dangerous receivers/defensive backs in Europe, Strahinja Stepovic from Serbia.

The versatile 6’2″, 195 pound 28 year old, a native of Kraljevo, Serbia, has enjoyed a stellar career in Europe, most recently in Turkey with the Yeditepe Eagles.

He played one game in 2020 with the Eagles before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

In 2019, playing in five games for the Koç Rams, (in his second stint with the team) he was a key contributor as the team captured its fourth straight Turkish title. He spent the previous two seasons (2017-2018) helping the Kragujevac Wild Boars win the Serbian championship and was named league MVP in 2018 as well as top receiver for the second year in a row. The 2016 season saw Stepovic with the Koç Rams for the first time, helping them win their first of four consecutive titles in Turkey. He spent the 2014 (Örebro Black Knights) and 2015 (Uppsala 86ers) seasons in Sweden amassing a total of 2,016 yards receiving and 27 touchdowns between the two teams. In 2013, his first season outside of Serbia, he played for the Osnabruck Tigers in Germany’s second division, GFL2, and made his mark, leading the team with 63 receptions for 1,067 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Crusaders head coach BD Kennedy:

“We are excited to add Srahinja to our team foe this season. We feel like we found a player that has the ability to help the team in a variety of roles. He is a player who is familiar with the league and has proven himself as an impact player on both sides of the ball.”

Strahinja Stepovic making a one handed catch against Vukovi Belgrade in Serbia’s top league Photo: Igor Lazarevic

The Crusaders will be using the talented Serbian mainly on the defensive side of the ball but he will also see plenty of action on offense and will also be used in a coaching capacity, both on the men’s team and on youth teams.

Stepovic is looking forward to the challenge:

“It feels extremely exciting and I am really looking forward to the season. I am fully aware that nothing but titles count in Carlstad. It suits my mentality, I am hungry for more rings.

“I am a versatile player who is used to playing on both defense and offense and who loves to compete. It doesn’t matter if it is a championship game or just shooting three-pointers with friends on the basketball court. For me, it’s always about winning. I see myself as a leader and I like coaching young players.”