2023 NFL Draft Profile: IOL John Michael Schmitz

Will this be the year the Giants invest in a true college center that can become a long-term anchor on their offensive line?

John Michael Schmitz, IOL

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 306 lbs.
Class: RS-Senior
School: Minnesota
Arm length: 32¾”
Wingspan: 78 ⅞”
Hand size: 9 ⅝”

A former three-star recruit out of Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, where he was the 25th overall prospect and the 16th center recruit in the 2017 recruiting cycle. Lettered as a wrestler in high school.

Notables

John Michael Schmitz rowed the boat as a starting center for PJ Fleck and the Golden Gophers since his RS-Junior season in 2020, where he finished honorable mention All-Big Ten conference. In 2021, he was second-team All-Big 10 and earned a first-team bid in 2022 while exercising his extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Pro Football Focus, Schmitz only allowed eight pressures and two sacks in 2022. Both sacks came against Wisconsin in his final collegiate game, although I had him surrendering a sack against Nebraska’s Ty Robinson on a Hump Move (Q2, 00:29, 2nd & 7). PFF also had Schmitz as the highest-graded offensive lineman in college football and the highest run blocking grade (of OL that played at least 20% of their team’s snaps).

It’s hard not to appreciate Schmitz's run-blocking ability and overall temperament. He also rarely surrendered negative pass-blocking statistics; in his collegiate career (991 snaps), Schmitz only allowed 21 pressures and two sacks. Schmitz did not play in Minnesota’s bowl game against Syracuse. He was a dominant presence at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, and his name may likely be called on day one of the NFL Draft.

Strengths

• Very good athletic ability in a well-built compact frame
• Quick feet and excellent explosiveness at the snap - light on his feet
• Lateral burst allows him to cover a lot of ground on the LOS
• Oily hips allows him to redirect & redistribute his weight when necessary
• Tight, quick, and effective ability to initiate contact
• He is a solid technically sound blocker with his punch and ability to frame a variety of blocks
• Frames blocks excellently in the run game
• Feet, hands, and eyes all work in unison - allows him to maximize power with excellent timing
• Sturdy at the point of attack - constantly churns his feet through contact
• Elite reach block ability - can cut off the angle of a 3-technique in outside zone
• Does well to scoop block and positions himself well
• Accurate and active hands that carry solid weight behind their punch
• Precise footwork as a run blocker
• Excellent Combo blocker
• Attacks the near hip - eyes up - smooth transitions
• Excellent range up to the second-level
• Utilizes solid body control on the move
• Never stagnant, always readjusting his hands and resinking his hips for a more advantageous position
• Good anchor and ability to absorb contact
• Stays in front of defenders well while moving/mirroring when engaged as a pass protector
• Reacts well in pass protection - trusts anchor, feet, and positioning
• Smart player with active eyes - did a great job handling twists into the A-Gap
• May or may not eat glass - very tough player who plays through the whistle
• Aggressively finishes block - true offensive linemen mentality

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Weaknesses

• More dynamic as a run blocker than in pass protection (still good in PP)
• Only has experience at center (not a knock, but a reality)
• With a full head of steam, he could get over his toes in space and not exercise the body control we’re accustomed to seeing a bit
• When he looks for work as a pass blocker, his pad level rises and it allows defenders to get underneath his armpit
• Nebraska: Q2, 00:29, 2nd & 7
• Mich St: Q2, 13:50 2nd & 9
• Will be 24 years old as a rookie

Summary

John Michael Schmitz is a smart, physical, efficient moving center who is an excellent run blocker with range. His ability to reach block is ideal for zone-rushing teams, but he can easily play in any system. Schmitz exercises good overall body control, footwork, and Combo blocking ability while playing like a famished pitbull with uncooked sirloin at stake (ha, puns).

Schmitz is a good overall pass blocker who is light on his feet. He does well in readjusting through reps to optimize his effectiveness. If I’m nit-picky, I appreciate his run-blocking more than his pass-blocking; pad-level is generally good, but defenders have gotten underneath him while in a half-man relationship - it’s not consistent, but it’s worth noting.

Any team should be happy to draft a player like John Michael Schmitz. I expect him to be a day-one starter for a team. He’s technically sound, has solid play strength, and can execute any block. He’ll hear his name on day one or early on day two.

GRADE: 6.74 

Nick Falato

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