Luke Schoonmaker, TE Michigan: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Schoonmaker was a three-star recruit from Hamden Hall Country Day School in Hamden, Conn. in the class of 2018

Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker took advantage of his fifth season with the Wolverines, emerging as a breakout star. It’s unlikely he cracks the top 100 selections in this deep tight end class, but he should go in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Luke Schoonmaker, TE Michigan: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth year senior tight end from Hamden, Conn.

Background: Schoonmaker was a three-star recruit from Hamden Hall Country Day School in Hamden, Conn. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 796 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 796 for On3.com. Schoonmaker was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. He produced 22 receptions for 343 yards and a touchdown as a high school senior to accompany 34 carries for 306 yards and two scores. He also completed 18 of 37 pass attempts for 201 yards and two touchdowns. As a junior, Schoonmaker caught five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 55 of 92 pass attempts for 878 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions while rushing 53 times for 623 yards and 13 touchdowns. Schoonmaker helped his team win the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Championship in 2016. He played quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and cornerback in high school. He also served as a pitcher and first baseman on the baseball team. Schoonmaker was born on Sept. 28, 1998.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed two games in 2022, left the TCU (2022) game with a shoulder injury

Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, 2022 Third-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, experience playing in the slot, in-line, and H-back, only three drops in college, decent arm length, size to be a redzone threat, frame has room to add mass, quick off the line, good build up speed early in the route thanks to long strides, quick enough to stress linebackers and some safeties in a straight line, finds open holes in zone coverage to sit in, solid hip sink, runs to space and is often open when the play breaks down, willing blocker, fires his hands into the defender, refits hands throughout blocking rep, punches are strong enough to halt linebackers, keeps feet active when engaged as a blocker, shows some ability to frame and sustain blocks, comfortable climbing to the second level for blocks, good GPS as a lead blocker, viable blocker in pass protection

Cons: Age, two penalties in each of the past three seasons, one year of production, a little high-hipped, lean throughout frame, re-routed by physical linebackers and defensive backs, needs to handle mid-route contact better, stumbles coming off linebacker contact in his route, routes are more rounded than sharp, doesn’t maintain speed going into and out of sharp cuts, route running doesn’t generate consistent separation, defensive backs aren’t scared of his speed, doesn’t play to his size at the catch point, doesn’t break tackles with power, not twitchy or elusive in the open field, sustains blocks but doesn’t displace defenders, performance as a blocker is inconsistent rep-to-rep, can improve his angles to blocks in space, attitude as a run blocker is sometimes not aggressive enough

Overview: Schoonmaker took official measurements at the NFL Combine. He’s 6050 and weighs 251 lbs. He has 9-inch hands, 32 7/8-inch arms, and a 78 1/8-inch wingspan. Schoonmaker has special teams experience on the kick return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. Michigan lined him up in the slot, in-line, and in an H-back role. He has decent arm length, excellent size to tower over defenders, and there’s room on his frame to add more weight. Schoonmaker is quick off the line with the build up speed to stress linebackers and some box safeties downfield. He finds the holes in zone coverage to give his quarterback an open target. Schoonmaker sinks his hips at the top of his route, and he was only credited with three drops in college. The fifth-year senior is a willing blocker who fires his hands into defenders with force. He refits hands throughout the play, and his punches are strong enough to halt linebackers. Schoonmaker keeps his feet active when engaged as a blocker. He shows some ability to sustain blocks with a combination of hand placement and replacement, leg drive, and framing. The Connecticut native has a good understanding of positioning when operating as the lead blocker and climbing to the second level. He’s a viable contributor in pass protection. Schoonmaker will turn 25 years old as a rookie. His frame is lean and a little high-hipped. He’s easily re-routed or thrown off balance by contact in his route. Schoonmaker’s routes are more rounded than sharp, and he doesn’t maintain speed going into and out of cuts. The former three-star recruit only generates limited separation and doesn’t scare defensive backs with his speed. He doesn’t play to his size at the catch point and needs to be more aggressive attacking the ball. Schoonmaker offers very little after the catch since he lacks the agility to make defenders miss and the strength to break tackles. While he sustains blocks, the All-Big Ten selection doesn’t displace defenders.

Overall, Schoonmaker is an older prospect who is still in the developmental stage of his football life, but he has the size and technique to contribute as a blocker early in his career. His route running still needs time to improve, but Schoonmaker’s versatility and willingness to do the dirty work should secure him playing time in 2023.

Role & Scheme Fit: Developmental in-line Y tight end

Round Projection: Fourth Round

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 03-31-23