John Michael Schmitz C Minnesota | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
John Michael Schmitz C Minnesota
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Last Updated: 03/12/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.35 seconds (28%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 24.6 DOB: 03/19/1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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*Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine
historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance).
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| Last Updated: 03/12/2023 | |
| Draft Year: 2023 | |
| 40 time: 5.35 seconds (28%*) | |
| Age: 24.6 DOB: 03/19/1999 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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*Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine
historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance).
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| Overall Rating: | 86.6 / 100 | |
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| Game performance weighted rating | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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84% |
| Run Blocking: |
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94% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Mid
Overall Rank:
#44
Position rank:
#8
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| College Games: 48 College Snaps: 2495 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 83/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 57 (NYG)
Draft Profile: Bio
John Michael Schmitz from Homewood-Flossmoor High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. Following high school, Schmitz opted to join Minnesota.In 2018 as a freshman Schmitz saw action in 5 games and played in just 17 snaps for the Golden Gophers. He allowed no QB hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks while playing sparingly.
As a sophomore in 2019 he played in 12 games and a total of 452 snaps. He conceded just one QB hurry, one QB hit, and no sacks.
In 2020 as a junior Schmitz saw action in 6 games and totaled 422 snaps. He gave up 4 QB hurries, 2 QB hits, and no sacks while playing at center.
In 2021 as a senior Schmitz saw action in 13 games and played a total of 837 snaps for the Golden Gophers. He allowed 5 QB hurries, no QB hits, and no sacks.
In 2022 as a fifth-year senior Schmitz saw action in 12 games and played a total of 767 snaps for the Golden Gophers. He allowed just 5 QB hurries, one QB hit, and 2 sacks.
Honors & awards
- Senior Bowl (2023)
- AP First Team All-America (2022)
- FWAA First Team All-America (2022)
- Walter Camp Second Team All-America (2022)
- All-Big Ten First Team (2022, coaches and media)
- All-Big Ten Second Team (2021, coaches)
- All-Big Ten Third Team (2021, media)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
- All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2020)
- RTB Trust Award (2019)
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Impressive overall athletic ability combined with elite prototypical measurables at 6-4 and 320lbs
- Outstanding on reach blocks, showing good initial quickness and flexibility to seal the backside. He’s a heady player who is quick to recognize and react to twists and stunts up front, and Schmitz shows a good sense of timing on combo blocks.
- Very strong at the point of attack - keeps his feet moving and driving defenders backward
- Mauler in the run game, playing with a nasty disposition and showing excellent snap-and-punch quickness.
- Outstanding as a run blocker - we've graded him as the top run blocking center over the past two years
- In the run game, he explodes off the line of scrimmage and consistently gets out to the second level to do damage.
- Schmitz has good size and power, firing off the line of scrimmage and capable of creating movement in the run game.
- Really smart player who has the high football IQ required for the position
- Has the strong leg drive to create movement at the line of scrimmage, consistently putting defenders on the ground.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Could be a liability against speed-to-power pass rushers early in his career.
- Elite as a run blocker merely good in pass protection
- Has a bad habit of lunging, and grabbing rather than trusting his athleticism to get him in position, which may lead to frequent flags for holding.
- Needs to player lower in pass protection - defenders can get under his pads and win the leverage battle
- Has good-not-great feet. Dealing with speed on the edge will likely be a problem, especially because he’s more comfortable moving forward as a run blocker than Schmitz is retreating as a pass protector.
- Slightly older than ideal prospect - will be 24 when he takes the field to start his pro career
- Not a lot of position versatility - has only played at center in college
- Pass protection is a potential issue; while he has a good initial punch and is fairly good with his hands, he’s heavy-footed and tends to stop his feet when he makes contact. He may struggle to mirror against quicker pro pass rushers
Scouting Report: Summary
John Michael Schmitz is an outstanding pro prospect - his technique is generally impressive, while his strength and overall power are outstanding for the position. As a run blocker, he is elite and for a run-heavy NFL team, he could quickly develop into a pro bowl level player. In pass protection he is good but his production doesn't match that of his run blocking, which may limit his draft demand.Expect Schmitz to be a first-round selection - and well worth one- in the 2023 NFL Draft and be either the first or second center to come off the board.
John Michael Schmitz percentiles vs other Center's (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
Update - 03/12/2023
He's been one of the best players at the Senior Bowl thus far. By far the best most consistent lineman and it's not even close. He's firmly established himself as a first-rounder.John Michael Schmitz Three Minute Video Review
Courtesy of NFL Draft Buzz contributor Steven Wright
How other scouting services rate John Michael Schmitz (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
40.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
9.0