NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Matthew Schmidt, OL, Furman University
What is your name?
Matthew Schmidt
What is your Height/Weight?
6’3” 305lbs
What is your position?
C/G
Where do you play college football?
Furman University
Where are you from?
Stokesdale, NC
Who is your role model, and why?
In football: Jeff Saturday & Forrest Gregg. In personal life: My Dad. Jeff Saturday and Forrest Gregg emulate what I aspire to be on the football field. Jeff Saturday overcame all these obstacles to become one of the greatest centers in the history of the NFL. Vince Lombardi called Forrest Gregg “The finest player I ever coached.” My Dad is one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met and lives his life selflessly for others.
Who was your favorite teacher?
My Mom
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Soccer, baseball, basketball, and golf
Who was the toughest player you ever faced?
Malik McDowell
Who is the most underrated player on your team?
Chris Washington & Chinedu Okonya
What is the one song that would fire you up before the biggest game of your life?
Enter Sandman by Metallica
If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be and why?
Ryan Kalil, because he is “undersized” but has been a top performer in the league by utilizing his athleticism.
What was the biggest obstacle in your life you had to overcome, and how did you overcome it?
Being undersized and being under-recruited in high school and now in college – overcame it by being excellent in everything I did, which resulted in having a successful college career starting as a true freshman and then being a 4-year starter. It culminated in earning FCS 1st Team All-American (AFCA).
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
The last song I listen to before I walk out of the Tunnel is “In Christ Alone/The Solid Rock” by Travis Cottrell.
What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?
3rd and 6 against Elon in the playoffs and we needed a first down to end the game. We ran inside zone and got movement upfront to get the first down. We took a knee the next play to win the only playoff game of my career.
What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?
Served at an FCA Boys camp the last two summers and have witnessed young men give their lives to Christ. Building friendships with others that transcend all different kind of barriers based off a mutual love for our savior, Jesus Christ.
Who was your favorite NFL team growing up?
Green Bay Packers! My family is originally from WI and has a deep connection to the organization.
If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would you choose?
Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Jesus because of his profound impact on me, and the other two because of their unique personalities that allowed them to pursue others, truth, love, and their own calling by God.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com