John Michael Schmitz

John Michael Schmitz (born March 19, 1999) is an American football center. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was named a first-team All-American.

John Michael Schmitz
Schmitz at the 2023 Senior Bowl
Minnesota Golden Gophers – No. 60
PositionCenter
ClassGraduate student
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-19) March 19, 1999
Flossmoor, Illinois, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight320 lb (145 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolHomewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor)
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

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

College career

Schmitz redshirted his true freshman season at Minnesota.[4] He played in all 13 of the Golden Gophers' games as a redshirt freshman, appearing mostly on special teams.[5] Schmitz was named Minnesota's starting center entering his redshirt junior season and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference.[6] He was named second team All-Big Ten in 2021.[7] 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.[8]

References
  1. "Western Michigan adds another Illinois recruit in Homewood-Flossmoor's John Michael Schmitz". NBC Sports Chicago. May 9, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. "Gophers center John Michael Schmitz makes it the 'Encore Four' for 2022". Star Tribune. December 13, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. "P.J. Fleck's move to bring recruits from Western Michigan has paid off for Gophers football". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 29, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. "John Michael Schmitz is the Gophers' center of attention now". Star Tribune. August 13, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  5. "Gophers football contributors go well beyond star players". Star Tribune. October 17, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  6. "Who starts for Gophers football in 2021? Here's an early analysis". Star Tribune. December 22, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  7. Wald, Jeff (December 1, 2021). "Entire Minnesota offensive line earns All-Big Ten honors". Fox9.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  8. "Q&A: Gophers center John Michael Schmitz on sky-high preseason praise, Greg Eslinger and 2022 expectations". St. Paul Pioneer Press. July 14, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
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