Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert (born November 6, 1993) is an American football outside linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the 4th round during the 2016 NFL Draft by the Browns. Schobert played college football at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he won the Jack Lambert Trophy in 2015 as the nation's best linebacker.

High school career

Schobert mainly played tailback and safety in high school football but also played wide receiver in addition to returning punts and kicks. As a junior he was a part of the Waukesha West team that won the WIAA Division 1 state title.^[1] During the championship game he set the rushing record with 296 yards on 38 carries.^[2] In his senior season, he rushed for 1,452 yards with 23 touchdowns.^[2]

College recruiting

Schobert was not rated or ranked by any of the major college ranking systems.^[3] He didn't receive any NCAA Division I scholarship offers.^[2] He wanted to play for the Wisconsin Badgers but was originally told he could tryout after the 2012 season started. Due to the lack of interest shown by Wisconsin, the only Division I football program in the state, he planned to attend Division I FCS University of North Dakota and join the Fighting Hawks as a walk-on.

In July 2012, Schobert's outstanding performance in the WFCA Large School All-Star Game in which he played running back, safety and kick returner, tallying 145 all-purpose yards, two tackles, two pass-breakups and an interception caught the attention of Kenosha Bradford football coach Jed Kennedy. When he learned that Schobert's only opportunity to play Division I college football was as a walk-on at North Dakota, he contacted people he knew in the University of Wisconsin athletic department. The day before Schobert was to depart for Grand Forks, North Dakota, Badgers head coach Bret Bielema offered him a preferred walk-on spot.^[2] In Schobert's own words: "They had a great coaching staff up there. I liked them. I thought I would have fit in, but Madison offered at the last second. It was a dream come true for a Wisconsin kid, so I had to jump on it. The rest has been history."^[4]

College career

Schobert attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a member of the Big Ten Conference, where he played outside linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2012 through 2015.

2012

During his freshman season Schobert played in five games but recorded no statistics. However, he was named 2012 Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year and brought on scholarship as a result.^[5]

2013

As a sophomore Schobert played in all 13 games and started in one game, against Arizona State in which he recorded five tackles and one tackle for loss. He recorded 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and three passes defensed.^[5]

2014

The 2014 season saw the Badgers replace all 4 starting linebackers from 2013. Schobert and Vince Biegel replaced the starting outside linebackers while Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter replaced the starting inside linebackers. Schobert and Biegel were described as former teammate Marcus Trotter as exact opposites, he described Biegel as "a hamster on a wheel, man. He's just always running." while he said "Schobert is the exact opposite. He's very calm all the time."^[4]

Schobert had a breakout season in 2014, he started all 14 games. By the end of the season he ranked first on the team in pass breakups with seven, second on the team in tackles for a loss with 13.5 and fourth on the team in tackles with 69. As a result Schobert was named a consensus honorable mention All Big Ten.^[5] Schobert was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for week 8 after his defensive performance against Nebraska on November 15. Schobert tallied 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed and fumble recovery.^[4]

At the end of the season Schobert was named Honorable mention All-Big Ten.

2015

2015 saw the Badgers replace the starting inside linebackers again while Schobert and Biegel started opposite one another again. While Biegel was named to numerous preseason award watchlists Schobert was not. Nonetheless Schobert was named as a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards in addition to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.

In Wisconsin's season opener against Alabama Schobert led the Badgers in total tackles with 13 and added four tackles for a loss and two sacks.

He was named Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week after week 5 after the Wisconsin-Iowa game in Madison where Iowa defeated Wisconsin 6–10. During the game Schobert recorded 8 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 3 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 2 force fumbles, 1 fumble recovery. He shared Defensive Player of the Week with Iowa defensive back Desmond King who had nine tackles and two interceptions^[6]

Against Maryland in week 7 Schobert relived on his high school days at tailback when he rushed for 57 yards on a fake punt on 4th and one.^[7]

In late November he accepted an invitation to play in the 2016 Senior Bowl which will be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.^[8] At the end of the regular season Schobert was named the Big Ten Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year in addition to being named First Team All-Big Ten by Coaches and Media.^[9][10] At the annual Badgers year-end honors banquet Schobert was the recipient of the Jimmy Demetral Team MVP award.^[11]

Schobert was named to the first-team All-America Team by FWAA and ESPN.^[12][13] He also earned second-team All-America honors by the AP, Walter Camp, USA Today, CBS Sports, Sporting News and Athlon Sports.^{[14][15][16][17][18][19]}

During the 2016 Senior Bowl Schobert played on the North team. Schobert bulked up for the game, weighing in at 247 lbs, 11 lbs heavier than his official weight on the Badgers roster. ESPN's Kevin Weidl commented on Schobert being a "savvy" pass rusher and that he "holds up well in space".^[20] WGN Radio Bears Insider Adam Hoge reported that Schobert's weight gain seemingly didn't affect his agility, his technique was exceptional during practices and he was "doing everything right in practices and has looked good in coverage".^[21][22]

During the Senior Bowl Schobert's teammate K.J. Dillon blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Ross Martin, Schobert was able to recover the ball and return it for 73 yards to the opposition's 6-yard line before being tackled by Jerell Adams.^[23]

College stats

Professional career

Schobert was selected during the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns in the 4th round, 99th overall.^[25] On June 8, Schobert signed a four-year contract worth about $2.97 million, which included a signing bonus worth about $634,000.^[26] Schobert was listed as a starter by the Browns for the season opener.^[27]

References

External links

• Wisconsin Badgers bio