Andrew Schulze is probably the least known first team player off of the Hawkeye Football depth chart. However, he plays a position absolutely vital to the success of the team. Schulze is the long snapper. In 2008 he handled every deep snap on special teams including punts, PATs, and field goals. Impressively, he was near perfect with not a single snap fumbled or kick not attempted.
High School:
Andrew Schulze attended Downers Grove South High School in Woodridge, IL. As a Mustang, Schulze played defensive end and tight end. His senior year, he helped lead the team to a 8-3 overall record, good for second place in the West Suburban (Gold) Conference and a state playoff birth. Schulze’s play earned him First Team All-Conference honors. Schulze played baseball in high school as a pitcher and catcher.
You can see pictures of Schulze in action for the Mustangs here and here and here. Look for number 88.
College:
Schulze was not really recruited at all. He came to Iowa as a walk-on in 2006 and redshirted his freshman year. To start 2007 Schulze was still not listed on the depth chart but quickly propelled to the starter as the long snapper for PATs and field goals in the second game of the year against Syracuse after the incumbent long snapper, Clint Huntrods, was dismissed for, according to the old BHGP, being too awesome (i.e. urinating in public). Anyway, Schulze embraced his chance to play and handled the deep snaps on PATs and field goals for the remainder of the season.
Last season, Schulze solidified himself as the starting long snapper and took over the responsibility on punts as well. As mentioned before, he snapped the ball on every punt, PAT, and field without a single errant snap. That is 51 punts, 47 PATs, and 24 field goal attempts without a mistake. He was a key to the success to the 96% PAT success rate and 79% on field goals. He was also an important piece of winning field goal against Penn State (though the snap was slightly high, it was still easily handled by Donahue).
So, for the upcoming 2009 season watch out for Andrew Schulze and don't be surprised when you see every long snap right on the money into Donahue hands.
