New Hampstead QB Pauly Seeley on why committing to Southern Conference school made sense for him
Athleticism runs in the Seeley family, and Pauly Seeley is the latest in line to take advantage of his gifts to reach the next level.
The New Hampstead senior quarterback announced Tuesday night that he will continue his football career at Wofford College, an FCS program that competes in the Southern Conference.
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"Wofford just had a little bit of everything for me," Seeley said of the college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. "I took a couple of visits up there and fell in love with the campus, the coaching staff and the entire program. I think it's a perfect fit for me. I want to be part of something great."
Seeley's father Paul was a standout quarterback and track and field athlete at Bowling Green University, where his mother, Tracy (Gaerke) Seeley, was elected to the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 after a stellar career as an 800- and 1,500-meter runner in track and field. Paul Seeley is an assistant coach for the New Hampstead football team under head coach Kyle Hockman, who played tight end in their college days together for the Falcons.
"It would obviously have been cool to go to Bowling Green where my parents went, but they never put any pressure on me about my decision and ultimately we're all happy that I'll be going to Wofford," Pauly Seeley said.
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Paul Seeley looks to build off last season as quarterback
Last season, Seeley was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection as he threw for 1,925 yards with 22 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, while running for a pair of scores for a Phoenix squad that went 6-4 and was edged 33-31 on the road in the first round of the GHSA Class 4A playoffs to Cairo.
"I think I've gotten better physically in the offseason," said Seeley, who carries a 4.0 GPA and also plays basketball for New Hampstead. "But I've really improved with becoming a leader for our team. I've worked hard in the classroom and on the field — and I'm going to be there for everyone this year.
"I wanted to commit before the season got started so I can focus on our team. We've got some talent and are looking forward to a successful year."
New Hampstead QB Paul Seeley preps for college football career
The 6-foot, 195-pound signal caller had offers from Bowling Green, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Elon in addition to Wofford.
Paul Seeley is looking forward to one more season on the sideline with his son.
"Bowling Green was in the mix because his mother and I had great experiences there," Paul Seeley said. "But we're excited about Pauly blazing his own trail and going to Wofford. It's a great school for him."
Pauly said playing for his dad and coach Hockman has been a great experience.
"My dad put a football in my hand when I was about 3 years old," said Seeley, who would like to get into coaching some day. "He's taught me everything I know about playing quarterback, and I wouldn't be where I am today without him. And playing for coach Hockman has helped me improve so much with the mental aspect of the game."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: New Hampstead quarterback Pauly Seeley commits to Wofford College
