Will Sewell: A country boy at heart

Back home in Virginia this past summer, standing gazing at a field set for harvesting, wearing his jeans, boots and Stetson, William “Will” Sewell was at peace.

The 30 year old defensive lineman/running back who is coming off another successful season with Norway’s Oslo Vikings, was visiting his parents’ ranch together with his wife, Kaja Kayser, and 15 month old daughter, Leah Sewell Kayser.

“I love being here. As a kid, I always grew up in the country but not on a working farm with horses and cows. We [my family] just got this place about six years ago. But I have always been a country boy, always been a hunter, I love hiking and fishing too. I am just an overall outdoorsman. It’s something that’s been in my family. And the work never stops when you’re on the farm There’s always something to be done which I like. I don’t like sitting around. I find peace in working.”

That interest in the outdoors and hard work is perhaps one of the factors that has contributed to Sewell’s success on the football field. This past season, 6’1″, 245 pound Sewell, a two-time All American from Frostburg State (Div. 3), helped power the Vikings into the Swedish Superserien semifinals playing multiple positions. In his third season with the Vikings, he turned in performances that had opposition players wide eyed. He was a brute force. He finished second in the league in tackles averaging almost eight a game and was in the top five on the Vikings in rushing.

This was not a one-off season for the bruising lineman/running back. He has been a continuing pattern since he first came to Europe in 2019. He had hoped for an NFL chance but when that didn’t appear he looked at other options. It was the urging of a Danish foreign exchange student that had him heading to Denmark at the end of his college career. And since joining the Copenhagen Towers in 2019 he has been a force to be reckoned with. He helped the Towers reach the Danish title game – the Mermaid Bowl – in 2019.

“I originally came over to Europe because of Viktor Andersen from Denmark. He was a foreign exchange student at Frostburg and he kept telling me I should come and play overseas. When I lost my shot to play in the NFL, that’s who I followed to get over to Europe to start playing. He had been on the Frostburg coaching staff like a GA. I stayed with the Towers until covid shortened the season in 2020 but I never got invited back after they limited the teams to just one import.”

Sewell had been a standout at Frostburg State. He was voted a D3 All American twice and led the team in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks for three straight years. Over his four-year career with the Bobcats, Sewell recorded 235 tackles, 56.5 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. The fact that he eschewed playing Division 1 football to stay at Frostburg is not a choice he regrets. In fact, his background tells a story of commitment.

“I went to Valley Ford Military Academy for half a year in Pennsylvania. Then I transferred to a small juco, Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York. From there, I took my credits and transferred to Frostburg because one of my cousins went there and I loved the campus and the football too. It was like old school, hard grind football. It was only two hours from home and it was an in-State school, it was cheaper and the education was awesome. That’s how I ended up at Frostburg. I loved it there and stayed. And even if I would have had a chance at a D1 school, I would have stayed at Frostburg because I had all my buddies there. I couldn’t just leave my friends because I got a D1 offer. I am a loyal person.”

Sewell spent the first season and a half of his European adventure in Denmark but the 2020 season ended abruptly just before the playoffs due to Covid. He returned to Europe when he signed with Oslo in 2022. Under head coach Derek Mann, Sewell thrived and the Vikings wound up reaching the Norwegian title game in both 2022 and 2023, capturing the crown in 23. Then they made the move to the eight team Swedish Superserien league this past season and stunned everyone by reaching the semifinals after losing their first four games of the season.

Mann was effusive in his admiration for Sewell’s contributions to the success of the team:

“Having Will on the team these past three years has raised the level of play from our entire team. He’s been a motivator and leader on and off the field. He puts in the work in the weight room and on the practice field. Come game day he is an absolute force to be reckoned with. I have coached a lot of great players over the years, but Will in my eyes has been right at the top of the list.

“Will comes ready to work every day. He’s always willing to play any position to help the team win. Last year he played defense, offense and almost every special teams. His motor is unlike anyone’s I have ever seen. An absolute relentless player and a hell of a person.”

Sewell was equally impressed with the level of coaching he enjoyed under Mann:

“Derek Mann is my favorite coach to play for ever. He always urged us to keep looking at the next play, to never give up. Nothing but good things to say about Derek. He’s a fantastic coach and fantastic person.”

What’s in store for the former All American? He admits that the move from the Norwegian league to the top league in Sweden was a big step.

“I think playing in Sweden this past year was the right decision for the Vikings. The level of competition was better, the stadiums are better. The game was more physical and faster. It was everything that I look for in football. I like to be hit and be challenged both running the ball and on defense and that’s what happened this past season in the Swedish league.”

With that behind him, and without committing to the Vikings for the 2025 season, Sewell is looking forward to his next challenge.

“I really enjoyed playing for the Vikings and coach Mann but it’s time to make a change. There are opportunities out there and I am ready to take advantage of them.”