Palmer High senior to play football at Southern Oregon

April 20, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Nate Svedin was once a basketball player who also played football.

Now, he's known as a football player who also plays basketball.

And the Palmer High School senior has the opportunity to take that football career beyond Machetanz Field.

Svedin has committed to play football at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore.

Early it in his high school career, it seemed basketball would be the likely choice if Svedin wanted to pursue athletics at the college level.

&#8220As a kid, I always thought about (playing) basketball,” the multi-sport athlete said last week after running a relay event in the Wasilla Invitational track and field meet. &#8220That's what I grew up playing. It was my first love.”

But then Svedin found football. And although he had more experience on the hardwood than the gridiron, Svedin flourished on the football field.

&#8220Football is a natural sport for me,” Svedin said.

As a junior Svedin moved into the starting lineup on both offense and defense, and since he has been named second-team all-conference on each side of the ball.

In 2005, Svedin was named second-team All-Railbelt at tight end, and again in 2006 at defensive end.

Svedin was able to make an impact at both positions for the Moose, but has decided to focus on the tight end position at the college level.

&#8220I like defense because you get to hit people, but I feel like I know more about the tight end spot,” Svedin said.

Southern Oregon generally runs an offense with a single-running back and two tight end formation, Svedin said, with no less than three receivers available at any given time.

Svedin said the Raiders coaching staff has told him they would like to utilize his ability to both block and catch the ball.

&#8220Basically what (the coaches) have been saying is its good that I can block and get in the open field,” Svedin said.

Southern Oregon, an NAIA program, finished 3-6 last season, playing competition primarily from Oregon and Northern California.

There were two Alaskans on the 2006 SOU roster - freshman Brian Beardsley of Seward, and freshman Conner Kuper, formerly of Dimond High School in Anchorage.

Svedin said he plans to redshirt the 2007 season, to better prepare himself for a solid four-year career at the college level.

The three-sport athlete also has mapped out his academic future. He said he plans to pursue both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in psychology.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.