2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Clayton Schwalbe, TE, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

• Name: Clayton Schwalbe
• Position: TE
• College: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
• Height: 6’2 1/2″
• Weight: 248 lbs
• X: @claytonschwalb1
• Instagram: @claytonschwalbe

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

I actually played soccer my entire life up until 8th grade since that was kind of my family’s sport. I always remember playing catch with a football with my dad in the backyard and enjoying it. But I think it was during 8th grade when I started playing football with my friends from school after school that I realized one how fun it was and two how good I could be at it. All my friends encouraged me to tryout for football freshman year of high school so that’s what I did and I’ve loved it ever since.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

One of them would have to be my first varsity touchdown catch my junior year of high school. It was the first game of the season, and I was named offensive player of the game which just made it a very memorable moment for me. Other than that I would have to say every fall camp in college. As tough and exhausting as they were, these were some of the best times for football. We had basically a month full of football, hanging out with your best friends, and had no homework to worry about.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I think honestly ever since I decided to play college football, I have had the dream to be an NFL player. My goal is to see how far I can go to prove to myself what I’m capable of. I’ve always believed I’m capable of being an NFL athlete but now I want to prove to myself that I have what it takes to make it to the next level.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

For sure George Kittle. He has been my favorite NFL tight end since I started playing football. I love his style of play and the grit he shows but also the joy and passion he plays with. It looks like he’s always having a great time playing football and just acting like an oversized kid playing the game he loves making jokes on the field. I feel like my style of game play resembles much of his.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

I don’t think I could just pick one, there’s no way. They each have influence me in so many ways and I’m very grateful to have each of them in my life. I feel like they have all helped motivate me and inspire me to be the person I am today in their own ways.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

As a TE I love a heavy play action style offense. I feel like as an offense we have the advantage of knowing what play we are running and by forcing the defense to read run first and then pass it helps to keep our offense from becoming predictable and slows the defense down. While I love when a huge play happens on offense, personally I love it more when we get a nice 10 play drive all the way down the field to end with a TD, to me I believe this is the most demoralizing thing you can do to a defense to make them just not want to play with you.

What should we know about Clayton Schwalbe the person?

As a person I hope people see that my faith is the center of my life, I understand that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that my entire identity is found in Him and I hope others see that and most importantly see the love of God through my life.

What stands out about your film the most?

When you watch my film, I believe you will see someone who not only can create explosive plays with the ball in my hands but can also level whatever defender is in my way and make a block that creates an explosive play for the offense. I feel like I am one of the most versatile athletes in this draft. I have been asked to do pretty much anything on offense and succeeded in doing so, heck I even kicked off for us one game and sent the ball through the end zone for a touchback. I believe whatever team decides to take a chance on me that no matter what role they want me to play I will be able to succeed in.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

Like I said before my faith is a huge part of who I am, so with any challenges that I face I always turn to God for guidance. I know that nothing is too big for my God to handle. I believe this helps me show resilience and strength when I’m faced with challenges and set backs in all parts of my life including football.

What would a team get in a player like you?

Whatever team decides to take a chance on me like I said, they are going to get a versatile athlete who believes he can do anything and everything they ask of him to do on the football field and will succeed at it. I am willing to fill whatever role it is a team wants me to fill and this i believe is what makes me unique over other players in my draft class. On top of that they will receive someone who will show resilience and determination even during the most challenging times.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

I love the brotherhood and connections it build but also the life lessons it teaches you along the way. I have built relationships through football that will last me a lifetime but I’ve also learned life lessons and skills that have shaped who I am today. Football builds character, resilience, and a work ethic like no other. Football teaches you how to prepare for every situation that life can throw at you while also being able to adapt on the fly and when life hits you in the face football teaches you how to keep pushing till you succeed.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

I would say my old roommate Jon Mathieu. Jon and I came into college at the same time and have gone through all the highs and lows of the football season and offseason training together. Jon is probably the hardest working and most determined individual I know. He was the person who motivated me on my worst days to keep pushing myself to achieve what we had set out to achieve. He was also the most selfless person when it came to playing football. He arguably was one of the top receivers on the field every single game but his stats didn’t always show this yet he never said a word about it and always did his job 110% and it shows if you ever watch our games and just watch Jon pancaking DBs and Safeties on run plays when he wasn’t getting the ball.