College Football Kicks Off with More Finnish Players Than Ever
As the college football season gets underway, 11 Finnish players are looking to make their mark.
NCAA Division 1
Olaus Alinen, Offensive line
Olaus Alinen, Kentucky Wildcats
Olaus Alinen is Finland’s best-known NCAA football player. The former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman transferred to Kentucky ahead of the 2026 season and is now beginning his junior season with the Wildcats. Alinen appeared in 32 games over three years at Alabama, contributing regularly to the offensive line rotation and special teams during his final two seasons.
At 198 cm and 149 kg, Alinen is one of the biggest players on Kentucky’s offensive line. He earned a starting spot during spring practice and enters the season as the starting left guard. He has also taken reps at tackle. Moving from Alabama to fellow SEC programme Kentucky, which has undergone significant changes to both its coaching staff and roster, has proved an excellent career move.
Aleksi Pulkkinen, Punter
Aleksi Pulkkinen, South Alabama Jaguars
Aleksi Pulkkinen is a pioneer for Finnish specialists in college football. The dependable South Alabama punter from Helsinki has established himself at the FBS level and is among the Sun Belt Conference’s most experienced special teams players.
In 2025, Pulkkinen played in all 12 games, averaging 40.4 yards on 49 punts, including 14 punts of more than 50 yards. His longest travelled 59 yards. He was also named a team captain, reflecting the high regard in which he is held by both coaches and teammates.
Known as the “Helsinki Howitzer”, Pulkkinen will work with a new coach as Tommy Perry returns from Colorado State to lead the special teams unit. Pulkkinen also serves as the holder on field goals and extra points.
Samu Suominen, Offensive ine
Samu Suominen, UMass Minutemen
A product of the Wasa Royals, Samu Suominen is the second Finnish offensive lineman competing at the FBS level in 2026. He joined the University of Massachusetts via the NFL Academy and stands 193 cm tall, weighing more than 140 kg.
During spring practice in 2026, Suominen earned first-team reps at both guard and tackle. The coaching staff have also tried him at centre, highlighting his versatility. He currently looks set to feature in the offensive line rotation and could earn a starting spot during the season.
Vili Haapasalo, Tight end
Vili Haapasalo; UAB Blazers
Originally from Lahti, Vili Haapasalo is another Finnish prospect who has progressed to American college football through the NFL Academy. The 198 cm, 104 kg tight end played for the Academy before joining the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
Very few Finnish players have played offensive skill positions at this level. Previous examples include running back Henri Jussila at UNLV and wide receiver Daniel Luoma at Eastern Illinois.
Haapasalo is a versatile tight end who can contribute both as a receiving target and as a blocker. His size makes him particularly effective near the goal line, and his physical attributes make him an intriguing developmental prospect at the FBS level.
Oliver Hautanen, Kicker
Oliver Hautanen, Buffalo Bulls
University at Buffalo kicker Oliver Hautanen is another Finnish player competing at the NCAA’s highest level in 2026. Hautanen spent his early childhood in Finland before moving to the United States with his family, living primarily in Dallas, Texas.
Buffalo recruited him as a promising kicker whose high school achievements included a 52-yard field goal. He redshirted his first season with the Bulls. At Covenant Christian High School, he converted all 49 of his extra-point attempts.
Hautanen’s strengths are his accuracy and powerful leg, which have helped him secure the role of Buffalo’s starting kicker for the 2026 season.
Mattias Kass, Defensive line
Mattias Kass, Bucknell Bison
Mattias Kass, from Vaasa, begins his college career at Bucknell in the Patriot League. Standing 193 cm tall and weighing approximately 109 kg, the defensive lineman is among the emerging talents of Finnish football.
The Estonian-Finnish newcomer brings size, mobility and international experience to Bucknell’s defensive front. Kass earned All-Central Virginia honours twice. In his senior year at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, he recorded 13 sacks, 59 tackles and 14 tackles for loss while serving as a team captain. He is expected to compete for playing time in his first season.
NCAA Division 2
Oskari Toijala, Defensive back
Oskari Toijala, Concordia University, St. Paul
Oskari Toijala has joined the defensive backfield of the Concordia Golden Bears in St. Paul, Minnesota. Finnish football fans will know him particularly from his time with the Tampere Saints and Helsinki Roosters.
Before moving to the NCAA, he played junior college football at College of the Canyons in California, recording 18 tackles and an interception in his freshman season.
Toijala’s tenacious playing style relies on quick reactions and constant movement. Concordia competes in the demanding Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), where defensive backs face tough tests week after week.
Sebastian Sparks, kicker
Sebastian Sparks, Quincy University
Sebastian Sparks pursued a college kicking opportunity in the United States by visiting universities and attending camps. His route has also been unusual in that he entered an American university from a Finnish vocational school.
The Kerava Bulldogs product is taking a major step forward by joining Quincy University. He handles both punting and placekicking duties, a combination that makes a specialist particularly valuable in college football. He has earned recognition in international evaluations for his ability to make field goals from beyond 50 yards.
Based in Illinois, the Quincy Hawks compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) at the NCAA Division II level.
Oliver Welch, Defensive back
Oliver Welch, Colorado State University Pueblo
Oliver Welch is entering his third year as a cornerback with the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves. A product of Venice High School in Los Angeles, Welch stands 191 cm tall and weighs 88 kg, bringing a physical presence to the ThunderWolves’ defence.
Colorado State University Pueblo finished the 2025 season with a 10–2 record and won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship. The ThunderWolves opened their 2026 season with a 44–25 victory over Central Missouri, with Welch recording three tackles.
Welch’s mother, Sirpa Welch, is Finnish, and he has a particular interest in Finland’s national flag football team.
NCAA Division 3
Sebastian Ahonen, Defensive back
Sebastian Ahonen, Carroll University
Sebastian Ahonen, now in his second year of college football in the United States, also featured for the Jyväskylä Jaguars in Finland’s Division I.
Ahonen progressed from Finnish youth football to Carroll University after spending two years at a prep school. The university is located in Waukesha, approximately a 30-minute drive from Milwaukee.
He earned a place on Carroll’s Dean’s List for spring 2026 in recognition of his strong academic performance. Ahonen has also represented Finland at U19 level.
Roni Eloranta, Offensive line
Roni Eloranta, Kenyon College
Second-generation football player Roni Eloranta plays for Kenyon College in Ohio. Originally from Tuusula, he progressed through the East City Giants’ youth teams before spending three years playing high school football at Trinity-Pawling, a prep school in New York. He also competed in discus and shot put there.
Now in his second year at Kenyon, Eloranta is establishing himself at offensive tackle and is expected to see playing time. Hollywood star Paul Newman also played football at Kenyon.
