The first Gopher came off the board in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft when the New York Giants selected center John Michael Schmitz with the 57th overall pick.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had Schmitz as his best center in the draft. The 24-year old was the second center taken, after Wisconsin’s Joe Tipmann was selected by the Jets 14 picks earlier.
John Michael Schmitz is a "red star player" and will be a leader in that locker room in New York.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 29, 2023
John Michael Schmitz fits a position of major need and is a plug-him-in Day 1 starter for the Giants.
I wouldn't have been surprised if he was gone quite a bit earlier.
Really good value for them.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 29, 2023
Schmitz was an first team All-American and first team All-Big Ten in 2022 and second team All-Big Ten in 2021.
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