04-05-2014, 03:15 AM
By Harry Minium excerpt
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 5, 2014
NORFOLK
Was Big Ten hopeful, is happy with ODU's big blue
From the first junior college football game he played at Los Angeles Pierce College, Reece Schmidt seemed destined for the Big Ten. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound middle linebacker from Simi Valley, Calif., is a punishing tackler and, for a big guy, a pretty good pass defender. He had five interceptions at Simi Valley High. Illinois offered him a scholarship after his freshman season. Illinois continued to recruit him and was joined by Ohio State and Iowa. Desperate for help at linebacker, ODU sent four coaches to the West Coast to press their case. "I could tell they really wanted me, that they really wanted me to play a big role on the team," he said.
Nearly five weeks into spring practice, he is. Schmidt has emerged at the top of the depth chart at middle linebacker as the Monarchs head into today's open scrimmage at 3 p.m. at Foreman Field. Head coach Bobby Wilder said the Monarchs were lucky to land Schmidt. "I played as hard as I could; I worked as hard as I could," Schmidt said. "That just tells me I'm here for a reason." Schmidt is one of three junior college linebackers who enrolled in January at ODU, All three were starters until Kohl Adams-Hurd, a Burbank, Calif., native who also attended Pierce, was sidelined for the spring by a knee injury last week. Martez Simpson, a Mississippi native, is starting at outside linebacker.
Schmidt said he and the other newcomers have gotten the message from coaches that the defensive performance the last couple of seasons isn't acceptable. "They're being hard on us, which is good," he said. "We've been told that every starting spot is open, that no one's job is safe. That's good for a new guy coming in to have that opportunity."
read more .... http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/was-big-...s-big-blue
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 5, 2014
NORFOLK
Was Big Ten hopeful, is happy with ODU's big blue
From the first junior college football game he played at Los Angeles Pierce College, Reece Schmidt seemed destined for the Big Ten. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound middle linebacker from Simi Valley, Calif., is a punishing tackler and, for a big guy, a pretty good pass defender. He had five interceptions at Simi Valley High. Illinois offered him a scholarship after his freshman season. Illinois continued to recruit him and was joined by Ohio State and Iowa. Desperate for help at linebacker, ODU sent four coaches to the West Coast to press their case. "I could tell they really wanted me, that they really wanted me to play a big role on the team," he said.
Nearly five weeks into spring practice, he is. Schmidt has emerged at the top of the depth chart at middle linebacker as the Monarchs head into today's open scrimmage at 3 p.m. at Foreman Field. Head coach Bobby Wilder said the Monarchs were lucky to land Schmidt. "I played as hard as I could; I worked as hard as I could," Schmidt said. "That just tells me I'm here for a reason." Schmidt is one of three junior college linebackers who enrolled in January at ODU, All three were starters until Kohl Adams-Hurd, a Burbank, Calif., native who also attended Pierce, was sidelined for the spring by a knee injury last week. Martez Simpson, a Mississippi native, is starting at outside linebacker.
Schmidt said he and the other newcomers have gotten the message from coaches that the defensive performance the last couple of seasons isn't acceptable. "They're being hard on us, which is good," he said. "We've been told that every starting spot is open, that no one's job is safe. That's good for a new guy coming in to have that opportunity."
read more .... http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/was-big-...s-big-blue
