2017 Draft Sleeper Series Volume 1-Karter Schult

This player is truly worth your time and effort when you study him, he hustles, he’s intelligent, an underrated athlete and is super-productive with: 13 solo sacks, 2 assists as well as,  82 tackles, including 61 solo and 21 assists.  His tape is exceptional and he is a great person, he should be drafted in 2017.  I present Karter Schult, wake up!

1. Karter, I have had the pleasure of watching your career from your time at UNI. What would you say are the 5 biggest and best lessons you’ve learned on your journey?

Karter Schult: Work Ethic: Almost any problem that I face in life can be solved by working extremely hard. Whether it be academic, social, or athletic I know that I can overcome all of life’s obstacles by outworking the competition.

Technique: In the game of football, nothing is more important that the technique you play with. You can be a ‘hellacious’ athlete, but with no technique, there will be no success. At UNI, and with Coach Paup, the small little details about hands, feet, etc. are drilled into day after day after day.

Consistency: It isn’t just about being good once or twice; it’s about showing up every day at the same level of excellence. My time at UNI instilled consistency in me. Weight room, practice, academically, and game days I knew how to bring it every day and not take plays off, days off, and settle to be average.

Grit/toughness: Through my years, I have truly learned what these words mean by being at UNI. I now have a mindset/mentality that no matter the adversity or challenge, I will meet it head on and go through problems, not around them.

Humility: I have always been a big believer in “don’t forget what you came from” and no matter how much success that I see or how “important” I may get, being from a small community and school have taught me to never forget the values that got you there in the first place. UNI has taught me never to be too high, yet to low and always carry kindness in your heart.

2. The next question, you played for Tom Nuss at Tripoli High School, what was that program like and what kind of coach was he?

Karter Schult: The program was built on hard work as most small schools usually are, but ours was special to me because of the brotherhood that was built between the guys in my class. We grew up playing together and it only made us compete harder each day. Coach Nuss was a great coach for me, I would say that he was a motivational coach first and a technique coach second. He was very passionate about coaching and his job which is why he was able to lead so effectively. I respect him so much and he is close friend to my family.

3. Who were your major rivals?

Karter Schult: In high school, just about everyone was a rival to me but to name a few: Janesville, Clarksville, and Northeast Hamilton

In college, at UNI our major rivals are North Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Iowa State, and Illinois State.

4. What was your recruitment process like, who was interested ?

Karter Schult: The recruitment process for me was very exciting and stressful at the same time. Until the end of my junior year, I didn’t see a ton of recruiting from anyone but smaller schools like DIII or JUCO, but eventually I received some more attention and starting going from camp to camp all over the Midwest to get more interest.

5. How did you finally choose your school?

Karter Schult: Eventually, I received an offer from UNI and it was like a dream come true, so I jumped at the opportunity and haven’t looked back since.

6. What were the best game and the biggest play you made as a high school player?

Karter Schult: I had a lot of big games in high school, but the biggest game was against a huge rival to make it into the playoffs. During that game, we were down by 6, driving, and facing a 4^th and 10 from like the 50. The play unfolded and our QB was nearly sacked but just before he went down, he lateraled it to me and  I ran for 25 yards to eventually lead us to win the game in the final seconds.

7. What was you big “Welcome to College Football” Moment?

Karter Schult: When I showed up to my first camp at UNI, I saw what real O-linemen looked like- 6’5 310 lbs. Our first practice it was like I was in slow motion because the speed of the game was so much faster.

8. The moment though was when on one of our busy days of camp, I woke up at 4:30 am to lift at 5 am, get breakfast, go to meetings for a couple hours, eat lunch, come back for a 3 hour practice, and then meetings after till 10, then eventually collapsing in bed thinking, “what have I got myself into”.

9. What was was your height and weight when you arrived on campus and what is your current height/weight?

Karter Schult: About 6’2” 228 lbs, now: 6’3” 270 lbs.

10. How have the systems and staffs at your school impacted your development?

Karter Schult: We have the highest quality of facilities at UNI and the staff on defense is amazing. A combined 10+ years of NFL experience is a resource you don’t see many places. These things have provided me with anything that I need and that has helped me develop as a person.

11. Which coaches have had the greatest impact on you and why?

• Karter Schult: Coach Bryce Paup- He has had the biggest hand in my life in terms of an impact. Since he arrived at UNI, I have grown so much as a player and a person and I can’t thank him enough for it. He always tells us he “teaches us the game of life, through football”.
• Coach Brandon Lynch- a great role model and mentor for me during my time at UNI.
• Coach Jeramiah Johnson-Another great mentor and mind that has helped shape me.
• Coach Mark Farley- He has pushed me to become a better player every year and never settle for average. He drives my passion to prove myself no matter what.
• Jed Smith – Our strength/conditioning coach, I owe him for the development of my body and mind.
• Nick Davis – Strength/conditioning coach, just like Jed, a great mentor for my development.How hard was to adjust to the verbiage, system and play-book and when did you feel 100% comfortable?

Karter Schult: It was definitely a big shock to me when I got to UNI because I had to start from scratch. In high school, we didn’t really have plays or names for certain positions. At UNI, there was a vast playbook that demanded that you know it and it probably took me about 2 years to know it and understand it to the point I was 100% comfortable with it. Just in time for me to start playing.

12. Who have been your favorite teammates, and why?

Karter Schult: I have really had hundreds of teammates that I could name because I get along with just about anybody, but as I have learned before you tend to become the people you hang out with. So for me it was important to be around driven and passionate people like me, and I gravitated towards those people on the team. People like: David Johnson, Xavier Williams, Deiondre Hall, Isaac Ales, and most of my DL group are favorites because we all shared a common goal/belief.

13. Who have been your favorite opponents and why?

NDSU is always a great match because you know it is going to be a great game that is going to come down to the end, but also it brings out the best in you as a player and a person. Iowa State- In state rivals are easy to hate, and I loved playing them for the same reasons as above-always a great game, very competitive, and great atmosphere.

14. If you could put together a list of your favorite players to watch or emulate, who is on that list and why?

Karter Schult: JJ Watt- He is just an overall beast; he can do so many different things and great at all of them. Not only is he great, but he plays with great effort/passion which is awesome to watch.  Reggie White- I used to love to watch him play with incredible strength and power. Something I try to emulate in my run stopping and pass rushing.  Chris Long- I have been a big fan of his versatility as well. He can pass rush and stop the run and I love that. He isn’t the biggest guy out there but still really dominates. He is also a very high effort guy and that is what I strive to be as well.

15.What NFL team[s] are your favorites and why?

Karter Schult: My team has always been the Green Bay Packers. My dad was a fan, and I grew up a cheese head from the day I was born. I also loved watching Brett Favre; he is by far my all-time favorite player just because of the way he played the game.

16. Which NFL player[s] do you think your game most closely resembles and why?

I don’t usually compare myself to anyone but if I had to say anyone who I strive to resemble it would be JJ Watt and Chris Long because not only are they talented, but they play with a relentless passion and motor as if they would die if they don’t get to the ball carrier and that is how I try to play.

17. When football is over what would you like to do with your education?

I am very passionate about fitness and the human body, so I am going into the strength/conditioning field. Hopefully, one day I will open my own gym that helps to train athletes and impact people’s lives.

18. Finally if you could go back in time to talk to 17 year-old you, what would you tell him?

Karter Schult: I would tell him that the next 4-5 years are going to feel like they are going by slow, but in reality it is going to fly by. Therefore, don’t leave any stone un-turned and enjoy every minute because it will be the best time in your life.

19. And what would you do differently if you could do it all over again?

Karter Schult: I am very blessed and fortunate to be in the position I am in and I can happily say that I don’t regret anything that I have done and can say I would do anything differently if I had a second chance. (Cliché I know)

20. What [if any] is/are your nickname[s] and how did you get it/them?

Karter Schult: My mom has a thousand nicknames for me but other than that everyone just calls me Karter.