John Michael Schmitz News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/john-michael-schmitz-2/ Minnesota sports, but different Fri, 24 Mar 2023 22:01:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg John Michael Schmitz News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/john-michael-schmitz-2/ 32 32 Vikings to Host John Michael Schmitz for Pre-Draft Visit https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-vikings/john-michael-schmitz-vikings-pre-draft-visit/ Fri, 24 Mar 2023 22:01:34 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=42200 The first round of the NFL Draft will take place just over one month from now (April 27) and former Minnesota Gopher, John Michael Schmitz, is expecting to hear his name called at some point that first night.

Vikings schedule visit with John Michael Schmitz

Where he will end up is yet to be determined but there are three teams with reported interest in the 300 lb 24-year-old. According to Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), Schmitz has scheduled meetings with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings currently hold the #23 pick. Of the three teams listed by Pelissero, they have the lowest draft slot. The Jets are set to pick at #13 and the Steelers at #17. It won’t be the first time JMS has been linked to the Vikings. The two sides also met at the Senior Bowl back in February.

Of course, players get picked by teams they never visited with pre-draft all the time, so it’s not guaranteed that any of these three end up with the former Gophers’ center. But visits are worth noting, since each team is limited to hosting just 30 prospects, leading up to the draft.

John Michael Schmitz is widely considered the best center in this year’s draft. He earned 1st team All-Big Ten, and (2) 1st team All-America selections in 2022, along with a Reese’s Senior Bowl performance that opened eyes across the NFL.

Bradbury vs Schmitz?

The Vikings re-signed Garrett Bradbury to a 3-year deal this offseason but they have an easy out after 2023, that wouldn’t cost them anything in dead cap. John Michael Schmitz never played an offensive snap with the Gophers, at any position other than center, so it’s yet to be determined if he can play guard.

Bradbury, on the other hand, played the entire 2016 season (845 snaps) at NC State as a left guard. While there may not be an immediate need at center, the Vikings are woefully thin at guard, entering the 2023 NFL Draft. Taking John Michael Schmitz, with their 1st round pick, could certainly help remedy that one way or another.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2023 17:01:37 +0000 Minnesota Gophers Football Four Gophers Invited to NFL Combine https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/gophers-football/four-gophers-invited-to-nfl-combine/ Wed, 08 Feb 2023 17:39:27 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=41699 The Minnesota Gophers have a multitude of former players who will be vying for roster spots on NFL teams this spring, summer and into fall. The route will be easier for some, than it will be for others.

Last week, six former Gophers participated in the three recognized NFL prospect bowls. On Wednesday, it was announced that four of those U of M football standouts — (C) John Michael Schmitz, (CB) Terell Smith, (S) Jordan Howden and (RB) Mohamed Ibrahim — received invites to the upcoming draft combine (Feb. 28 – Mar. 6).

John Michael Schmitz and Mohamed Ibrahim vs NFL Combine

John Michael Schmitz can continue to separate himself from the rest of the center class with a good combine. It could be the difference between being a late-1st/early-2nd round pick or falling into the 3rd. But knowing what he did at the Senior Bowl, I wouldn’t expect a regression in Indianapolis.

It’ll be interesting to see where Mohamed Ibrahim ranks in many of the drills he’ll be run through, compared to other running back prospects. Everyone knows what he’s done as a Gopher and the film speaks for himself.

What draft experts believe will hold Mo back, come April, are (a) his age [almost 25] and (b) his athletic measurables. If Mo can change some minds by running faster, jumping higher and moving quicker than scouts expect, he could jump from a late-round/undrafted type prospect, up to an early day-3 guy.

Jordan Howden and Terell Smith vs NFL Combine

Jordan Howden and Terell Smith are currently projected as late-round/undrafted prospects. They too could see their stocks rise significantly with good showings at the combine. Terell Smith, who was one of the biggest standouts at the East/West Shrine Bowl, is an athletic specimen so he’s a guy to watch when the pads come off and underwear goes on.

Omitted from the roster in Indianapolis, out of those who received invites to one of either the NFLPA, Shrine or Senior Bowls last week, were (QB) Tanner Morgan and (EDGE) Thomas Rush. Both guys had their moments last week but couldn’t make the NFL Combine cut.

Tanner Morgan and Thomas Rush Miss Combine Cut

At the East/West Shrine Bowl, Morgan seemed to throw the ball well during the week but went just 3 of 7 for 33 yards and 1 interception on game day. Rush was the only Gopher representative at the NFLPA Bowl. He stood out at practice and grabbed two sacks in the game.

Missing out on the combine doesn’t mean Morgan and Rush won’t make an NFL roster, or practice squad, come fall. As mentioned before, their route just became a little more difficult.

That won’t be a problem for either guy, though. When you’re baptized and raised in PJ Fleck’s Row The Boat culture, you have your oar ready for all waters. It wouldn’t surprise me to see all six of these guys making money in The League next season.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2023 11:41:33 +0000 Minnesota Gophers Football John Michael Schmitz Would Fix Vikings’ Offensive Line For Good https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-vikings/john-michael-schmitz-vikings-nfl-draft/ Sat, 04 Feb 2023 00:42:21 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=41641 John Michael Schmitz will play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday, where the former Minnesota Gopher will have another opportunity to separate himself from the rest of the centers entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

He didn’t wait for the weekend to impress the pro scouts in attendance in Mobile, AL, though. JMS has been turning heads all week at practice and in 1v1 drills against some of the best draft-eligible defensive tackles in the draft.

John Michael Schmitz Turning Heads at Senior Bowl

John Michael Schmitz has showcased his stacked toolbox throughout the week. Above, you see him stand strong when facing bull rushers and pass off stunting defenders with ease. He also shined in the screen game, opened gaping holes for running backs and threw defensive linemen around like ragdolls.

Scouts and media members in attendance have been fawning over JMS for days. PFF’s Mike Renner called him the draft’s top center. “Not even close“, he claims. ESPN’s Jordan Reid tweeted that an argument can be made JMS has been the best player at the senior bowl, so far.

John Michael Schmitz would Fix Vikings O-Line Woes?

Minnesota Vikings center, Garrett Bradbury, will be a free agent this offseason, after having the best year of his career by far. If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants him back, it’ll require a hefty pay raise. Something the Vikings’ salary cap cannot afford.

You know what would be cheaper and, possibly, a better option? Drafting John Michael Schmitz. Because, if JMS is a plug-and-play starting center from week one, like many think he will be, then the offensive line problems plaguing this franchise for a decade would cease to exist.

With Christian Darrisaw at left tackle, Brian O’Neill at right tackle and John Michael Schmitz at center, the Vikings would have the majority of their offensive line set for the foreseeable future and they wouldn’t have to pay two of the three for another 2+ years.

Draft Projections

The Vikings will pick at #24 in this year’s draft (technically #23 because the Dolphins forfeight their pick), which is on the early side of John Michael Schmitz’ projections. If he goes in the first round, it’s most likely to be in the last 10 picks.

Experts think it’s more likely, for now, that he goes somewhere in the 2nd round. Here’s the problem. The Minnesota Vikings traded their 2nd round pick to the Detroit Lions midway through last season for TJ Hockenson.

That means, if they want the best center in this year’s draft, they’ll have to jump on him earlier than he’s expected to go OR Kwesi will have to work magic to fall down the board. Something he already showed a willingness to do in his first-ever draft last year.

Vikings have a lot of needs

Knowing how many positions they need to upgrade, falling back to gain an extra pick in the top two rounds wouldn’t be a bad idea. The Vikings are in desperate need of cornerbacks, linebackers, defensive linemen and wide receivers, too.

But fixing the o-line so Kirk Cousins can sit back and pick defenses apart will certainly be enticing for this front office come April.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:42:24 +0000 Minnesota Gophers Football John Michael Schmitz Named PFF All-American, Others Honored https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/gophers-football/john-michael-schmitz-named-pff-all-american-other-gophers-honored/ Wed, 30 Nov 2022 16:42:45 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=41202 The Minnesota Gophers’ 2022 season was both successful and disappointing, depending on who you ask. But there was nothing disappointing about (C) John Michael Schmitz’ senior year.

After an incredible 2021 season, the 6-4, 340 lb entered 2022 with the highest NFL expectations of any player on the Gophers’ roster. And John Michael exceeded all of them, cementing himself as the best center in college football, all but guaranteeing him an early selection in April’s NFL Draft. On Wednesday, he was honored by Pro Football Focus (PFF), who named him a 1st Team All-American.

PFF Loves John Michael Schmitz

Schmitz’ 92.4 offensive grade at PFF is the best of any center in the country but it’s not even his most impressive metric on the site. In 2,945 career snaps, Schmitz has allowed just 2 sacks, 15 hurries and 21 pressures, committing only 10 penalties in the process. His 98.8 efficiency score is nearly impossible.

This is the first of many accolades John Michael will receive over the next couple of months, as the college football season comes to a conclusion.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Brevyn Spann-Ford honored too

Two other Minnesota Gophers found their way into the hearts of Pro Football Focus this season. (RB) Mohamed Ibrahim was named a 3rd Team PFF All American and Brevyn Spann-Ford was listed as an Honorable Mention.

Ibrahim’s 89.1 overall grade was good for 9th among NCAA running backs. Spann-Ford graded out at 90.5, which landed him 5th among qualied tight ends. According to Darren Wolfson (SKOR North), NFL agents are recommending that Brevyn declare for the draft a year early.

It doesn’t seem like Spann-Ford is in a hurry to leave Dinkytown, however, and reportedly loves being a Gopher. So, he’s up in the air. His decision could be one of the most important roster moves of the offseason.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:52:41 +0000 Minnesota Gophers Football Tyler Nubin, John Michael Schmitz Climbing NFL Draft Boards https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/gophers-football/tyler-nubin-john-michael-schmitz-climbing-nfl-draft-boards/ Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:54:24 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=41146 The Minnesota Gophers could very well have a handful of 2023 NFL Draft prospects on their current roster. But there are two players, (S) Tyler Nubin and (C) John Michael Schmitz, who appear to be day-two (rounds 2 + 3) locks.

On the latest Top-100 Big Board at PFF, Tyler Nubin slotted in at #52 and John Michael Schmitz landed at #68. In PFF’s mock draft simulator, Nubin currently lands with the Lions most often (21% of drafts), followed by the Seahwawks (14%) and Eagles (11%). Schmitz is most often drafted by the Bears (27%), Seahawks (20%) and Steelers (20%).

Tyler Nubin NFL Draft Profile

Tyler Nubin was a 4-star (247Sports) high school prospect out of Illinois and someone PJ Fleck was extremely excited about on National Signing Day 2019. Since then, he’s blossomed into one of the best safeties in the Big Ten and shows the most NFL promise of any Gopher defensive back since Antoine Winfield Jr.

At 6’3″, 205 pounds, Nubin has the prototypical frame the pro scouts are looking for. And in the last two seasons, the production has come too. He’s followed up the three interceptions he totalled in 2021 with four so far in 2022.

Nubin has totalled 154 tackles in his college career and he’s shown improvement, both statistically and to the naked eye, each year. The type of progression NFL teams are looking for. Scouts will also love the way he plays special teams. Tyler is a lock to contribute week one, for whoever drafts him, even if he can’t win a starting safety job out of the gate.

John Michael Schmitz Draft Profile

John Michael Schmitz could have entered the NFL Draft after the 2021 season and he would’ve been a lock to be a mid-round pick. Instead, he returned to school as the bona fide leader of the Minnesota Gophers offensive line.

PFF loves this kid. His grades scored in the mid-80’s as an underclassman part-time starter (~450 snaps) in 2019 and 2020, before blossoming into one of the best centers in the country as an upperclassman. His 88.5 offensive grade in 2021 was good for 3rd best in the country. In 2022, his 92.0 grade is easily the best of any center in the NCAA. 2nd place doesn’t even hit 90.0.

There’s no doubt who the best center in the 2023 NFL Draft will be. It’s John Michael Schmitz and it’s really not close. Zone running teams will salivate over what JMS will allow them to scheme up in the ground game. The Minnesota Vikings, for example, would be a perfect fit.

Will Tyler Nubin Go Pro?

Schmitz is out of eligibility after this season and he’s a lock for the Reese’s Senior Bowl this offseason. Nubin, however, did not enter the season with the same type of draft hype as John Michael. Instead, it’s been Tyler’s stellar play through 11 games that has rocketed him up draft boards across football.

It hasn’t been confirmed that Tyler Nubin will go pro, like we know will happen with John Michael Schmitz. But last week on the Mackey & Judd Show, Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) all but announced Nubin’s plans to enter the draft following the 2022 season. Tyler would later walk on Senior Day (vs Iowa), all but sealing his 2023 draft weekend envelope.

“I know a big agent who has tried to secure [Tyler Nubin’s] services and hasn’t even been able to track him down. Tyler Nubin is so popular right now, his value is not going to improve. Tyler Nubin needs to go pro, should go pro. The expectation is that Tyler Nubin will play his last game at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday (vs Iowa).”

Darren Wolfson (Mackey & Judd – SKOR North)

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2022 08:54:27 +0000 Minnesota Gophers Football