The expectations are high for rookie center John Michael Schmitz with the NY Giants in 2023. The second-round pick will start right away and he's expected to play beyond his years for the G-Men from start to finish this fall. Will he deliver?
A lot of people have full belief in the youngster, with the long list including his former head coach at Minnesota, P.J. Fleck. Fleck appeared on the Giants Huddle Podcast recently and he had nothing but good things to say about his former lineman:
Giants fans will certainly love what John Michael Schmitz brings to the table
"(The) New York Giants fanbase is going to be excited to get him. He’s one of those players that is going to play in the NFL for a very long time."P.J. Fleck
The Giants have been unable to find consistency at the center position since Shaun O’Hara last played with the team in 2010. The fans are hoping Schmitz can finally be the answer to one of the franchise’s longest-standing questions.
Schmitz was a highly-decorated player during his time with Fleck. Mentioned as an All-Big Ten player in 2020 before receiving Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2021, Schmitz was then named an All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten player in his final season at Minnesota. In other words, if there’s anyone who knows how to get the most out of Schmitz and where he may be the best fit for a football team, it’s Fleck.
Fleck spoke glowingly about Schmitz’s character and the man he is off the field, but he also didn’t hesitate to mention that Schmitz has another side to him as a competitor on the field. Opposing defensive linemen better be ready for this kid.
"He’s one of the greatest people off the field. One of the best connectors of the locker room that you’ll ever meet. However, whenever he’s on that football field, he’s a nasty, nasty human being."P.J. Fleck
A 24-year-old rookie, Schmitz has plenty of experience and reps under his belt. Not to mention, he has faced some stiff competition in the Big Ten during his time with Minnesota. Fans can't wait to see what Schmitz will be able to get done once September rolls around. They'll have plenty of confidence in his potential, especially with Fleck being so high on him.
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