VIDEO: https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/week-3-spring-blitz-2022-ol-dl-target-billy-schrauth
STRENGTHS
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I’ll start by saying the talent difference between St. Mary’s Springs Academy - state title winners in 2017, 2018, 2019 - and Campbellsport, which fell to 1-2 on the season, was significant. With that, Billy Schrauth had his way for the three quarters he played during a 44-8 win Friday evening.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, Schrauth played left guard and multiple spots along the defensive line for the Ledgers. As a run blocker, Schrauth drove the pile and consistently got to the second level. From his guard position - likely where Schrauth projects should he play on that side of the ball at the next level - it was exciting to see the four-star prospect get out and pull in the run attack. He’s just a big, powerful and athletic kid who will eventually be a four-year varsity starter for Springs.
As a defensive lineman, Schrauth certainly brings that “position flexibility” UW assistant coach
Ross Kolodziej talked about during his availability last week. When lining up in the 0 through 3 techniques, Schrauth simply overpowered the center or guard. When he bumped out and played on the edge, Schrauth exploded off the ball and displayed some nice technique with his hands and footwork. He’s also long enough to disrupt passing lanes, specifically in two screens Campbellsport attempted Friday. Schrauth was consistently in the backfield and made things difficult for Campbellsport all evening.
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
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Nitpicking here, but Schrauth could clean some things up as a pass blocker. With the lopsided score, Springs had a favorable down and distance for much of the evening. But in pass-pro, I wanted to see more violence from Schrauth in his striking. Again, just nitpicking here.
OUTLOOK/RECRUITMENT
Again, I’m taking the level of competition into consideration, but I thought Schrauth jumped out a bit more in comparison to fellow four-star lineman
Joe Brunner, whom I saw play last fall. Both are excellent athletes and two-way players at their respective schools, but I really came away impressed with what Schrauth brings to the table.
In terms of his recruitment, Schrauth is still working with a top four of Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. I don’t think you can ever count out the Buckeyes, but this feels like a battle between the Badgers and Irish. Notre Dame has been my FutureCast pick for a few months, and nothing Schrauth said on Friday made me question that. Talking to a few people from Springs, a private, Catholic school located in Fond du Lac, Schrauth feels the values and culture at his current school line up well with what Notre Dame has to offer. He also feels very comfortable with the coaching staff in South Bend.
Though it has an uphill battle to fight, I think Wisconsin still has a shot here, largely because Schrauth has yet to visit UW during his recruitment. The Badgers are going to get an official visit in June - Schrauth couldn’t recall the exact date - and there will be an opportunity to blow him and his family out the water. Will it be enough to jump ahead of Notre Dame? Only time will tell.
As far as his future position, Schrauth said he is talking to coaches on both sides of the ball from Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan; Notre Dame likes him as an offensive lineman. At first glance, Schrauth looks like an offensive lineman, and he certainly has the frame and athleticism to excel on that side of the ball. But from a Wisconsin lens - and after listening to Saeed Khalif in December talk about the defensive line being the toughest position to recruit - Schrauth makes the most sense, in my opinion, at tackle or end. Specifically because of his skillset to play multiple spots, I’d let Schrauth get his first crack on defense.
WISCONSIN COMPARISON THE CURRENT ROSTER
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Schrauth is a clearly a more heavily-recruited and accomplished prospect, but he compares well to Ben Barten, who was also viewed as a “jumbo athlete” by Wisconsin and Iowa, among others schools. During his recruitment, Barten was listed at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, and his body-type at that age is pretty similar to Schrauth. Barten (6-foot-5 and 301 pounds on the spring roster) is now playing guard for the Badgers, and Schrauth could certainly be in a similar position just over one year from now.
Let me know what your thoughts are.
