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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

It feels good beating out Big Ten teams for a player. This just shows me once again that Wilder is building something special at ODU.

This is very good news indeed!
Although only one instance, it shows that we are now able to close with defensive players like we had been doing on offense.

(04-05-2014 07:54 AM)odubum Wrote:  It feels good beating out Big Ten teams for a player. This just shows me once again that Wilder is building something special at ODU.

I love this story and look forward to seeing Reece help bring respectability to our defense. Although it'd be a huge morale booster to think we are beating out Big Ten schools for recruits, the story only says Reece had interest from the Big Ten and even had a scholarship offer at one time from Illinois after his freshman year, but in the end, ODU happened to be his only FBS offer. Great pick up, nonetheless!

This:

Quote: But ODU was the only FBS school that offered him a scholarship

doesn't jive with this:

Quote:Yet, when the December signing date rolled around, he had just three offers: Georgia State, Savannah State and Old Dominion.

Georgia State sucks, but they're FBS.

I went to the scrimmage today. Schmidt is a horse! I am convinced he will be a standout in our defense this year.

Schmidt looks like a FBS football player, think the staff got a good one.

I liked his quote in the VP article, "There will be no California summer for me," in other words, he's staying in Norfolk to work out and get ready for the 2014 season, love it!

I like the way he looks in the photos lining up for a play. Llooks like he means business.

Most of you are not old enough to remember Tommy Nobis, the 6’2” 240 lb MLB for University of Texas and first round draft pick (and first pick ever) of the NFL expansion team Atlanta Falcons. Nobis was a two-time All American and Outland Trophy winner at UT and was a leader on the 1963 National Champion Longhorns when I was a senior in high school. Nobis played for the Falcons for ten years and was a five-year pro-bowler. He should be in the NFL HOF, but is not, only because the Falcons were really not a very good team in their early years. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about him and a video if you are interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Nobis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGAerM8x7BI

I tell you this because Reece Schmidt (6’3”, 245 lbs) reminds me of Nobis. Yes, it is way too early to compare Schmidt to any five-time pro bowler, but if you watch these two highlight videos, I think you will see what I mean. One is Schmidt’s high school highlights, and the other is from his junior college playing days in California. By the way, the high school video opens with four or five interceptions, two for TDs.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/o/311781/#hi...s/18254387

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-xF1KM6w0Y

Schmidt is the real deal. I think we will be remembering his name for a long time.