Wisconsin Football: Joe Schobert's NFL Draft Profile

NFL Draft Profile: How former Wisconsin football linebacker Joe Schobert looks heading into the draft

The NFL Draft is fast approaching at the end of April, and former Wisconsin football players are hard at work trying to earn a spot on an NFL team. Among them is linebacker Joe Schobert, who hopes to continue his career at the next level.

The reigning Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, Schobert took the college football world by storm early in the 2015 football season, jumping out to lead all players in the country in total sacks.

He finished strong, totaling 9.5 sacks on the season, the ninth best figure in school history. His 19.5 tackles for loss ranked ninth in the country and eighth-best in school history, and he notched five forced fumbles, tying Chris Borland for the most in Wisconsin football single-season history.

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He finished his Wisconsin career with 172 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 total sacks. His seven career forced fumbles are tied for second in school history.

Schobert earned First Team All-America Honors from the Football Writer’s Association of America and ESPN and Second Team honors from the AP, Walter Camp and Sporting News. He was a consensus first team All-Big Ten pick, a finalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Burslworth awards, and was the team’s Jimmy Demetral Team MVP selection.

Schobert’s career began as a walk-on at Wisconsin, and his plan is to have it continue in the NFL.

Here’s a look at the NFL Draft profile for the next in a long line of strong Wisconsin football linebackers.

Measureables:

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 244 pounds
Hand size: 9-3/4 inches
Arm length: 31-1/2 inches
40-yard dash: 4.76 seconds
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 111.0 inches
3-cone drill: 7.11 seconds
Bench press: 22 reps (225 lbs.)
20-yard shuttle: 4.30 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.59 seconds

Strengths: Production, drive

Schobert might not have the prototypical edge rusher body, but that in no way stopped him from making play, after play, after play for the Badgers.

His size didn’t stop him from living in opponents’ backfields as he piled up tackles for loss and sacks. He’s shown time and time again he can beat blockers to the ball.

He’s a slippery pass rusher, not always relying on speed or strength to get to the QB. He reads offensive lines well, and pairs nicely with his other linebackers and linemen in defensive stunts.

His beginnings as a walk-on show NFL teams he has a love for the game and desire to get better, and teams will know he’s a hard worker.

Weaknesses: Size, strength, top-end edge speed

Schobert doesn’t have the size or speed NFL teams are looking for in edge rushers. That doesn’t mean he won’t play the position at the next level, it just means teams who are looking at him exclusively on the outside mught have him lower on the board.

Last Impression:

In his final game in a Wisconsin Badgers uniform, Schobert totaled three tackles (one for a loss) as the Badgers slowed down a tough USC offense.

Wisconsin won 23-21, shutting down late-game attempts by USC to drive down the field for a game-winning field goal attempt.

Final Word:

Schobert should be the first Badgers player of the board, and could hear his name on day two of the NFL Draft as a third-round pick. He shouldn’t be available past the fourth round.

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Schobert might need to move to an inside linebacker position, and he might not be the biggest or the fastest prospect out there, but you can’t argue with his drive and his production.

Schobert will work his tail off in the NFL to become the player his team needs him to be.

Wisconsin Football: Joe Schobert’s NFL Draft Profile

By Jim Oxley | Apr 27, 2016