Name: Luke Schoonmaker
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Hamden (CT) Hamden Hall
Position: Tight end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #86
Last year: I ranked Schoonmaker #53 and said he would be a backup tight end (LINK). He played in all six games.
TTB Rating: 81
Schoonmaker seemed to take a step back in 2020. After catching 2 passes for 54 yards and 1 touchdown in 2019, he was fighting with Erick All for backup snaps last season. With Nick Eubanks as the starter, All largely took over the backup role (and dropped a lot of passes in the process), relegating Schoonmaker to the third guy at the position. (That does not include Ben Mason, who was more of a fullback.)
Now Eubanks (and Mason) have graduated, which should be good news for Schoonmaker. With All likely ascending to the starter's role, that probably puts Schoonmaker in the #2 role. He has decent speed but has struggled a little as a blocker; however, he has gained 10 pounds since last season, squeezing those 10 pounds onto a shorter frame (fun fact: Schoonmaker was listed at 6'6" in 2020 and is now 6'5"). Redshirt freshman Matt Hibner and true freshman Louis Hansen will both also be vying for snaps, but Schoonmaker is more experienced and has shown to be a quality backup.
Prediction: Backup tight end
Interesting one. Schoonmaker as the only returning TE-sized player with experience - on a team that loves to use TE-sized players. All is WR-sized (6'4 229) and so is Hibner. Expectations are pretty low for Schoonmaker but opportunity and need seem high. Senior year you want to see it come together.
ReplyDeleteThe Hansen hype is encouraging. If he is indeed a future star it seems like he could pop early. But practice starts Friday. That's where good effort in the weight room and looking the part take a back seat to guys who know how to play.
In terms of rank this one seems highly variable (especially for a senior) but probably the right spot.
All is listed at 6'4", 245 on the MGoBlue website: https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/erick-all/21963
DeleteThat's good! Was hoping and expecting he would bulk up. That is just recently updated info.
DeleteIn a certain sense, I'm kinda-sorta looking forward to the season. Because I have absolutely no expectations or built up hopes. I think I know what it's like to be a Purdue fan.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best way to live. Well, not the Purdue part.
DeleteI know he's a backup, but following the pattern of the rest of the countdown, the ranking is about right. A TE who doesn't block and doesn't produce yards or points is more important than a bunch of guys who actually can, because he will most certainly be on the field more
ReplyDeleteA guy who plays is typically more important than a guy who doesn't.
DeleteNot always though, some guys are all the same and it doesn't matter if it's a walk-on - like at RB.
Of course
DeleteBut using 2-3 TEs who do not block well, and can be largely ignored by defensive coordinators in a "speed in space" offense is one of many reasons expectations are at 'purdue' level
I agree with you. Michigan has overestimated their TE's ability (especially McKeon) and overused them in recent years. It's arguably the weakest group on the offensive side of the ball.
DeleteThere's some hope here though - we know Honigford can block so even if he's one dimensional that's still useful. We also know All is an enthusiastic blocker and has upside as a receiver. The drops are probably (hopefully) overstated as an issue and will get resolved.
The biggest thing at TE is Erick All making a leap. Everything else is secondary.
Honigford is now listed at TE and down to 257 pounds. So he's a full-time TE, which probably makes Schoonmacher less important he might have been. I assume Honigford is still not going to be a downfield threat but if teams ignore him he can probably make them pay a couple times over the season.
ReplyDelete-LANK