Before he developed right into a three-year beginning defensive finish for Johns Hopkins soccer, Luke Schuermann was a highschool scholar in St. Louis who was uncertain whether or not he was destined to proceed his profession on the school degree.
“When I first started playing high school football, my thought process was, ‘Oh, I’ll enjoy it, but I don’t really think I want to play in college,’ he said. “Then I kind of had a change of mind and decided to go in that direction.”
Schuermann’s alternative appears prophetic. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior defensive lineman is the two-time reigning Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year and ranks second within the league in each sacks (5) and tackles for loss (8 1/2). The Blue Jays (5-0, 1-0 convention) are ranked No. 7 in the latest American Football Coaches Association ballot and sit simply behind Muhlenberg (5-0, 2-0) within the race for the league title.
And that call may proceed to pay dividends. Schuermann is starting to attract curiosity as a possible NFL prospect. He mentioned scouts from the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders took his measurables and requested recreation movie final spring, and a workforce spokesman mentioned scouts from the Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers have attended practices this fall.
CBS Sports soccer analyst Emory Hunt described Schuermann on X, the social media platform previously generally known as Twitter, as “an underrated prospect” who has “insane production and leaps off the tape immediately.”
“I was like, ‘Wow, his statistics don’t look real.’ It was ridiculous production,” mentioned Hunt, founder and CEO of Football Gameplan. “And then when you watch a game, he really was explosive off the ball, he was dynamic, he had multiple ways to get to the quarterback. You could see him as a potential rush end in the pros.”
Johns Hopkins’ two most distinguished gamers to achieve the NFL are huge receivers Joe Cowan, who was chosen by the Colts within the seventeenth spherical in 1969, and Bill Stromberg, who signed with the Eagles as an undrafted rookie in 1982. Coach Greg Chimera mentioned Schuermann may very well be the following.
“As he’s gotten better and the production has been as constant as it is despite the double teams and triple teams that have come his way, I thought he’d be a guy that could garner some attention, and it’s well deserved,” he mentioned.
A self-described “rambunctious kid,” Schuermann mentioned a pal of his father, Chris, recruited him to play soccer as a 3rd grader. He mentioned soccer was essentially the most distinguished factor that separated him from rising up with 5 sisters.
Schuermann, who turned 22 on Oct. 2, is flanked by Anna, who’s 23; Grace, 20; Ella, 17; and twins Kate and Lydia, 15. Admitting that he was “a pest of a brother” to his sisters, he mentioned he by no means wished for a brother.
“For me, it was just what it was,” he mentioned. “I’m very grateful that I have a great relationship with them and that my parents raised us all very well. It was always a good environment growing up.”
Schuermann mentioned he was recruited by Iowa (as a most well-liked walk-on), Dayton, Valparaiso, and Columbia. But he selected Johns Hopkins over Dayton as a result of he was impressed by the college’s educational repute and felt valued by the coaches.
“I just thought being at the D-III level and hopefully being able to play was best for me, and I really think that’s how it’s turned out,” he mentioned.
In his first season with the Blue Jays in 2021, Schuermann led the workforce in sacks (11), tackles for loss (20 1/2) and compelled fumbles (4) and ranked sixth in tackles (46). The following 12 months, he paced the unit once more with workforce highs in sacks (14) and tackles for loss (26 1/2) and ranked second in tackles (70). He grew to become the third participant in Centennial Conference historical past to win a number of Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming a member of Dickinson’s Eric Dube (2006-07) and Muhlenberg’s Frankie Feaster (2018-19).
Defensive coordinator Dan Wodicka mentioned Schuermann’s No. 1 transfer is a velocity rush off the sting, however has developed the power to push again blockers into the pocket. Wodicka additionally praised Schuermann as a relentless scholar.
“He is constantly reaching out to me and asking questions about stuff he’s seeing on film,” he mentioned. “A lot of the game planning up front is built on recommendations from him and what he’s seeing on tape.”
Hunt, the CBS Sports soccer analyst, was scouting Blue Jays huge receiver Quinn Revere, who had transferred from Lafayette and led the 2022 squad in landing catches (13) and ranked second in each receptions (53) and receiving yards (673), when he started learning Schuermann. Although the typical NFL defensive finish is 6-4 and 274 kilos, Hunt mentioned Schuermann doesn’t want so as to add weight to his body.
“He could stand to get stronger, but that’s going to come when you have access to a pro strength and conditioning program,” Hunt mentioned. “What he has now is enough to work with.”
Hunt mentioned if there’s one impediment, NFL scouts will query whether or not a participant from a Division III program can compete with counterparts from Power Five groups and different Football Bowl Subdivision colleges. Chimera identified that Hobart offensive lineman Alexander “Ali” Marpet overcame that stigma and performed seven seasons within the league after being chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the second spherical of the 2015 NFL draft.
“My personal opinion is that he can compete there, but I think that’s a fair question to ask,” Chimera mentioned. “.I think the top-level players in our division can compete with anybody.”
Schuermann is on tempo to graduate in May with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering however does have one other 12 months of eligibility remaining. He mentioned he would take into account persevering with his profession with the XFL, USFL or CFL, however is honored by all the NFL discuss.
“I feel blessed to be in the position that I’m in,” he mentioned. “When I take a step back and really think about it, it all feels like it’s just kind of happened all of a sudden. The fact that it’s even a possibility is really crazy to me.”
Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall
Saturday, 1 p.m.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com