Seppo Evwaraye
Encyclopedia
Seppo Evwaraye is a retired Finnish
NFL
offensive guard first signed by Carolina Panthers
as a free agent in 2006., and also played for Minnesota Vikings
as an international practice squad member.
, Finland
. During his year as an exchange student in Nebraska, Evwaraye received an offer to play for University of Nebraska
. He redshirt
ed as a freshman. Evwaraye played as defensive tackle during his freshman and sophomore year, but turned to right tackle as a junior.
Evwaraye had been signed by the Carolina Panthers
as a free agent
in 2006, however he was unable to make the team due to problems with his work permit
. Evwaraye played during the 2007 spring in NFL Europa for Cologne Centurions
as a Guard
. After the season, he joined the Vikings as an International Practice Squad Program
member.
Seppo retired in September 2010 after winning his second consecutive Finnish Championship
with Porvoo Butchers.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
offensive guard first signed by Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
as a free agent in 2006., and also played for Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an international practice squad member.
Career
Evwaraye started football in his home city of VaasaVaasa
Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. During his year as an exchange student in Nebraska, Evwaraye received an offer to play for University of Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
. He redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ed as a freshman. Evwaraye played as defensive tackle during his freshman and sophomore year, but turned to right tackle as a junior.
Evwaraye had been signed by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2006, however he was unable to make the team due to problems with his work permit
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
. Evwaraye played during the 2007 spring in NFL Europa for Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
as a Guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
. After the season, he joined the Vikings as an International Practice Squad Program
International Practice Squad Program
The International Practice Squad Program is an initiative run by the National Football League in which selected players from outside the United States or Canada are assigned to the practice squads of NFL teams. The program began operation in 2004...
member.
Seppo retired in September 2010 after winning his second consecutive Finnish Championship
Vaahteraliiga
The Vaahteraliiga is the highest level of American football in Finland played under American Football Association of Finland. The winner of the Vaahteraliiga is the Finnish champion. The Vaahteraliiga season is played in summer, with a schedule usually from May to September.The first season of the...
with Porvoo Butchers.