John Michael Schmitz

John Michael Schmitz
refer to caption
Schmitz in 2023
No. 61 – New York Giants
Position:Center
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-19) March 19, 1999 (age 25)
Flossmoor, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school:Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Illinois)
College:Minnesota (2017–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 2 / pick: 57
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2024
Games started:23
Games played:23
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Michael Schmitz Jr. (born March 19, 1999) is an American professional football center for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota, where he was named a first-team All-American.

Early life

Schmitz was born on March 19, 1999, in Flossmoor, Illinois, and attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School.[1] Schmitz initially committed to play college football at Western Michigan under coach P. J. Fleck.[2] He later flipped his commitment to Minnesota after Fleck was hired there.[3][4]

College career

Schmitz redshirted his true freshman season at Minnesota.[5] He played in all 13 of the Golden Gophers' games as a redshirt freshman, appearing mostly on special teams.[6] Schmitz was named Minnesota's starting center entering his redshirt junior season and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference.[7] He was named second team All-Big Ten in 2021.[8] Schmitz used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Minnesota for 2022.[9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		301 lb
(137 kg) 		32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 5.35 s 1.85 s 3.03 s 4.56 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 8 ft 8 in
(2.64 m)		 26 reps
All values from the NFL Combine[10]

Schmitz was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round, 57th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[11] As a rookie, he appeared in and started 13 games in the 2023 season.[12]

References

  1. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 152. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Tim, Edgy (May 9, 2016). "Western Michigan adds another Illinois recruit in Homewood-Flossmoor's John Michael Schmitz". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Johnson, Randy (December 13, 2021). "Gophers center John Michael Schmitz makes it the 'Encore Four' for 2022". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Greder, Andy (October 29, 2021). "P.J. Fleck's move to bring recruits from Western Michigan has paid off for Gophers football". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Johnson, Randy (August 13, 2022). "John Michael Schmitz is the Gophers' center of attention now". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Ryan, Megan (October 17, 2019). "Gophers football contributors go well beyond star players". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  7. ^ Ryan, Megan (December 22, 2020). "Who starts for Gophers football in 2021? Here's an early analysis". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Wald, Jeff (December 1, 2021). "Entire Minnesota offensive line earns All-Big Ten honors". Fox9.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Greder, Andy (July 14, 2022). "Q&A: Gophers center John Michael Schmitz on sky-high preseason praise, Greg Eslinger and 2022 expectations". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "John Michael Schmitz Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Eisen, Michael (April 29, 2023). "Giants draft Minnesota OL John Michael Schmitz with 57th pick". Giants.com.
  12. ^ "John Michael Schmitz 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2024.