Matt Fourman said the reason he chose to attend the University of Indianapolis was not only to play football, but also because the school offers a program in criminal justice.

The Seymour senior plans to become a police officer after he graduates from UIndy.

“I chose Indianapolis because they have the program that I can do my senior year that will help me for what I want to do after college,” he said.

On Wednesday, Fourman announced his plans to become a Greyhound on the gridiron and in the classroom.

Fourman played linebacker and tight end for the Owls last fall, but at Indianapolis he will concentrate on defense.

“I like to play inside because I can fill holes and hit people,” Fourman said. “I like the atmosphere of the game and the brotherhood. You know you’re going to have people there by your side who have your back.”

He was credited with seven solo tackles last fall.

On offense Fourman played in the goal line formation.

That offense became part of the Owls’ game plan in the fifth game of the season, as Fourman caught a 2-point conversion that game to help the Owls win.

Fourman said he was happy to have been part of the team that had an 8-4 record last fall, won eight straight games, and played in the sectional championship game for the second straight year.

“When you win several in a row you expect to win because you’re putting so much in the preparation,” Fourman said.

Fourman said his playing weight last fall was 225 pounds, and he’s cutting 10 pounds to play baseball this spring.

He said when he reports to Indianapolis in early August he wants to weigh between 225 and 230.

Fourman played two years at Trinity Lutheran and transferred to Seymour for his junior year.

“I liked the culture,” he said about playing for the Owls. “I felt like any of the guys on the team would drop what they’re doing to help me. We have a strong brotherhood here.

Fourman said he began playing football in first grade in the PAL (Police Athletic League) in Columbus. He played there through fourth grade, then played at Immanuel Lutheran, then at Trinity Lutheran before switching to Seymour.

Owls coach Josh Shattuck said he feels like Fourman can have success with the Greyhounds football team.

“I think, as a guy walking on, he’ll be a contributor to their culture,” Shattuck said. “We feel strongly that we have a good culture here, that we prepare kids for the future if they want to play football or any other sports that we have in our program.

“They see a lot of coaches that care, they see a lot of players that care, put in a lot of time and do a lot in the off season so it shouldn’t be a huge shock for him going into a program like that in terms of the time commitment and the workload.”

Shattuck said he was pleased to have worked with Fourman the past two seasons.

“He transferred in from Trinity when their program kind of collapsed and we were happy to welcome him in, and really happy to offer something he couldn’t get over there,” Shattuck said.

“He was a two-year kid for us and did a lot of good things. He’s a 100 percent weight room kid and bought into everything we were doing so we were happy to have him. He was a key contributor to our program.

“He is definitely a strong kid, committed to doing the things he needed to do in the off-season and in the summer to get his body in a physical condition to play those positions.”

Fourman said playing at Seymour “was a big step from what I was used to, but it was a lot of fun.”