Owen Schmitt

Owen Schmitt (born February 13, 1985 in ) is an American football fullback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.

Early years

Schmitt played fullback, defensive end, and linebacker at first Paul VI Catholic High School and then Fairfax High School in Virginia.

Collegiate career

Wisconsin-River Falls

After graduation from high school, Schmitt left to attend the University of Maryland. However, his grades kept him out of Maryland and instead he enrolled at Wisconsin-River Falls. At River Falls, he posted a 1063yd and five touchdown performance his freshman year, which earned him Division III all-conference honors in only nine starting performances.

West Virginia

Schmitt attended spring practice the next year at West Virginia University. Schmitt walked-on to the Mountaineers' squad, and was the starter for the 2005 season. Schmitt's sophomore season was his breakout year. He blocked for various runners, but after the mid-point of the season, freshman Steve Slaton earned starting duties. Along with quarterback Pat White, Schmitt and Slaton teamed up to make one of the best rushing attacks in the NCAA. Schmitt totaled 380 yds and two scores, while running back Slaton recorded 1128 yds.

In 2006, Slaton, White, and Schmitt were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's regional "Big Man On Campus" article. With high expectations, the Mountaineers posted an 11-2 record. Schmitt rushed for 351 yds and seven touchdowns on the season, also totaling a receiving score. Slaton rushed for 1744 yds, due in large part to Schmitt's lead blocking. Schmitt's biggest game was in the come-from-behind bowl game win against Georgia Tech, where Schmitt filled in for the injured Steve Slaton, rushing for 109 yds and two scores.

Schmitt earned NSCA Strength All-American honors at the end of the season, as he bulked up from 245 pounds to 260. After the season he was named "College football's top workout freak" by ESPN.com.

In 2007, his senior year, Schmitt was arguably one of the best fullbacks in the NCAA. Schmitt took many snaps at tight end in spring practice, where head coach Rich Rodriguez lined him up occasionally. Schmitt's first big game of the season came against Maryland when Schmitt rushed four times for 46yd, including a 44 yd dash early in the 31-14 win. According to ESPN during the Maryland game, Schmitt has broken eight face masks in his career. In the next game against East Carolina, Schmitt rushed for 32 yds on four rushes with two receptions for 9yd. Against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, Schmitt earned MVP honors for the game with 39 yds on eight rushes for two touchdowns. He also had a 31yd reception(where he hurdled one defender and rumbled over another) and a 27 yd punt that was downed inside the Syracuse ten-yard line on a trick play. In the 28-23 victory over #22 Cincinnati, Schmitt rushed for 19 yd on six carries, including the first score of the ballgame with a 4yd touchdown rush. Now Owen has 10 broken facemasks, coming off of the Louisville and Cincinnati games. Unfortunately West Virginia suffered a heartbreaking loss to Pitt the last game of the season which knocked them out of the National Championship picture and matched them up with Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Schmitt was awarded the Ira Errett Rodgers Award and Fred Schaus Captain's Award at the end of the season by head coach Rich Rodriguez. Schmitt finished out his collegiate career with three rushes for 64yd and a touchdown in the 48-28 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma. Schmitt's 57 yd touchdown was a career-long and was a school bowl record until Noel Devine broke the record in the fourth quarter of that same game. It also marked the third consecutive bowl that Schmitt finished with a 50 yd rush.

Schmitt ended the season with 106 knockdown blocks and 17 touchdown-resulting blocks and finished the season with two of his three "pooch" punts downed inside the 20yd line, for an average of 20.3yd per punt.

In Schmitt's career, he earned 21 career starts, four of which were at tight end. Through his 353 career carries (at WVU and Wisconsin-River Falls), he was only tackled for a loss four times. He also carried the ball for 1003yd, a 6.3yd average, during his Mountaineer career. In his four collegiate seasons, Schmitt totaled 122 points and 2,398 all-purpose yards.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Schmitt accepted an invitation to play in the 2008 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama following the season. He was then invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. Schmitt's 26 bench reps were tied for the fourth best by a back in the Combine.

At West Virginia's Pro Day on March 13, Schmitt ran a 4.72 40, a 4.11 short shuttle, a 6.85 three-cone, and an 11.85 long shuttle. He measured in at 6'2" and . He performed running back, fullback, and tight end drills without dropping a pass the entire day. He also recorded a 9'9" broad jump and a 31.5" vertical jump. After the Pro Day, Schmitt worked out at the campus before traveling to interview with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He also worked-out with the Browns' running backs coach, Anthony Lynn.

Wt	40 yd	20 ss	3-cone	Vertical Jump	BP	Broad Jump
Pre-draft measureables
*247 lb	*4.7s	4.11	6.85	36"	*26	9'9"

(* represents NFL Combine)

Seattle Seahawks

Schmitt was drafted in the fifth round (163rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Schmitt was the second Mountaineer selected in the draft, behind Steve Slaton in the third round (89th overall) to the Houston Texans. Schmitt signed a four-year contract including a $158,000 signing bonus. In his first preseason game as a Seahawk, Schmitt rushed one time for two yards, caught two passes for 35 yards and also had two tackles on special teams against the Minnesota Vikings. The following week, against the Chicago Bears, Schmitt had a reception for 15 yards.

Schmitt did not play in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, but he had a reception for 6 yards in the second game against the San Francisco 49ers. In the 27-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams, Schmitt had his first professional rush for 2 yards.