University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Schult Prepped And Ready For NFL Draft
4/25/2017 5:00:00 PM | Football
2016 Buck Buchanan Award winner and MVFC Defensive Player of the Year Karter Schult is ready for the next step. It has been four months since graduating from UNI with his degree. UNI, a place he gave his blood, sweat and tears for. The UNI-Dome, the place he called home for four years. It all comes to a head this week with the NFL Draft airing April 27-29.Â
Fans can watch the 2017 NFL Draft on the NFL Network starting with the first round on Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. CT. The second and third rounds will air on Friday, April 28 starting at 6 p.m. CT with rounds 4-7 airing on April 29 at 11 a.m. CT. For ways to tune into the draft, fans can check out the 2017 NFL Draft Central Page.Â
Q: While playing at UNI, when did you start realizing that the NFL was going to be a possibility?Â
A:Â I think it started to hit me when I was a sophomore. I was starting to get some good playing time and experience, developing good habits and had a productive year. I knew if I could build on that, it would be even more possible. Then, after junior year I saw it become even clearer because of my successful individual season. I knew in my heart that I had all the abilities to do it, and I just had to prove it to the ones that matter.
Q: What coach at UNI (past or present) has been the most influential in you getting to the next level?
A:Â First of all, Mark Farley gave me that chance to be here in the first place by giving me a scholarship, and on top of that knowingly or unknowingly he pushed me in different ways to become better every day. Without all of the strength coaches along the way, it wouldn't be possible. Nick Davis, Jed Smith, Frank Romanazzi, Riley Anderson, and the list goes on; have helped me in one way or another. Jeremiah Johnson, one of my favorite guys to be around has also helped throughout the years and of course I need to mention Bryce Paup. Coach Paup was one of the best things to happen to me when I was here. I don't have enough words to say how he helped me as a football player and a man.
Q: What organization did you train with while in Texas and why?
A:Â I trained at the organization called APEC, which is located in Tyler, Texas. I learned about APEC through my agent, and when I was looking for places to train I wanted to make sure that I found the best fit for me. I looked for good facilities, great one-on-one coaching, and most of all results. That is exactly what I found when I looked at APEC. I enjoyed my experience down there and made some amazing relationship along the way.Â
Q: What was your experience like at the East-West Shrine Bowl?
A:Â It was an experience of a lifetime for me, but most of all it was an introduction into preparation for the NFL, exposure against the best competition, and it was essentially a job interview. It prepared me for the NFL because we were being coached by NFL coaches in the meeting room and on the field, and it gave me insight on how things go on a day to day basis in the league. We were also being constantly interviewed by scouts from all different teams and then when we got to the football field, it was an amazing chance to showcase my abilities.
Q: You stood out on the field and in the classroom during your time at UNI, why do you think both of those attributes make you standout to NFL teams?
A:Â I think NFL teams look for guys who can be a talent on the field, but off the field as well because the more well rounded you are, the better you represent their organization on and off the field. The more you can do, the more valuable you are as well.
Q: What have you heard from scouts during your time training and going to pro days?
A:Â I have had positive reviews from all the people I have talked to. I think I have talked to almost every team at one point or another but the things that are usually said are, "great kid, coaches, teammates, staff love him, plays with incredible effort and motor, very powerful, very versatile and very productive." That is the kind of stuff that I have been hearing for the last 3-4 months.
Q: What have been some of the differences in training for college football and the training you've done the past four months?
A:Â My experience is hard to describe because it was very different than my college experience. I have had lots of time to myself to thinkand dwell on my dream, my goal, my future. As far as training went, I was in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar faces, doing unfamiliar training. It was very specific to me, my needs, and my goals and I loved it just as must as my college experience training, but it was just very different.Â
Q: Why do you think you should be drafted into the NFL?
A:Â I believe I should be drafted because I would be a major asset to any team. I have proved multiple years that I can play football at a very high level. I am very productive as my numbers show, I can do it from different positions and I am still getting better every day. I am smart, a quick learner, high football IQ, and my work ethic is insane. All else aside, I love this game, my passion is off the charts for what I do, and the one thing that nobody can measure is heart, I've got more than enough of that.
Q: Who has been the most influential person off the field for you during your career?
A: It would be very obvious and deserving to say my family because they have been amazing at all times, but I think it is long overdue that a special person gets her shout out. My girlfriend, Marissa Jensen, has been by my side for the last three years and without her I wouldn't be who I am now. She supports me in everything that I do, brings me up when I am down, and loves me unconditionally. I can't say enough about her, and I love her.
Fans can watch the 2017 NFL Draft on the NFL Network starting with the first round on Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. CT. The second and third rounds will air on Friday, April 28 starting at 6 p.m. CT with rounds 4-7 airing on April 29 at 11 a.m. CT. For ways to tune into the draft, fans can check out the 2017 NFL Draft Central Page.Â
Q: While playing at UNI, when did you start realizing that the NFL was going to be a possibility?Â
A:Â I think it started to hit me when I was a sophomore. I was starting to get some good playing time and experience, developing good habits and had a productive year. I knew if I could build on that, it would be even more possible. Then, after junior year I saw it become even clearer because of my successful individual season. I knew in my heart that I had all the abilities to do it, and I just had to prove it to the ones that matter.
Q: What coach at UNI (past or present) has been the most influential in you getting to the next level?
A:Â First of all, Mark Farley gave me that chance to be here in the first place by giving me a scholarship, and on top of that knowingly or unknowingly he pushed me in different ways to become better every day. Without all of the strength coaches along the way, it wouldn't be possible. Nick Davis, Jed Smith, Frank Romanazzi, Riley Anderson, and the list goes on; have helped me in one way or another. Jeremiah Johnson, one of my favorite guys to be around has also helped throughout the years and of course I need to mention Bryce Paup. Coach Paup was one of the best things to happen to me when I was here. I don't have enough words to say how he helped me as a football player and a man.
Q: What organization did you train with while in Texas and why?
A:Â I trained at the organization called APEC, which is located in Tyler, Texas. I learned about APEC through my agent, and when I was looking for places to train I wanted to make sure that I found the best fit for me. I looked for good facilities, great one-on-one coaching, and most of all results. That is exactly what I found when I looked at APEC. I enjoyed my experience down there and made some amazing relationship along the way.Â
Q: What was your experience like at the East-West Shrine Bowl?
A:Â It was an experience of a lifetime for me, but most of all it was an introduction into preparation for the NFL, exposure against the best competition, and it was essentially a job interview. It prepared me for the NFL because we were being coached by NFL coaches in the meeting room and on the field, and it gave me insight on how things go on a day to day basis in the league. We were also being constantly interviewed by scouts from all different teams and then when we got to the football field, it was an amazing chance to showcase my abilities.
Q: You stood out on the field and in the classroom during your time at UNI, why do you think both of those attributes make you standout to NFL teams?
A:Â I think NFL teams look for guys who can be a talent on the field, but off the field as well because the more well rounded you are, the better you represent their organization on and off the field. The more you can do, the more valuable you are as well.
Q: What have you heard from scouts during your time training and going to pro days?
A:Â I have had positive reviews from all the people I have talked to. I think I have talked to almost every team at one point or another but the things that are usually said are, "great kid, coaches, teammates, staff love him, plays with incredible effort and motor, very powerful, very versatile and very productive." That is the kind of stuff that I have been hearing for the last 3-4 months.
Q: What have been some of the differences in training for college football and the training you've done the past four months?
A:Â My experience is hard to describe because it was very different than my college experience. I have had lots of time to myself to thinkand dwell on my dream, my goal, my future. As far as training went, I was in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar faces, doing unfamiliar training. It was very specific to me, my needs, and my goals and I loved it just as must as my college experience training, but it was just very different.Â
Q: Why do you think you should be drafted into the NFL?
A:Â I believe I should be drafted because I would be a major asset to any team. I have proved multiple years that I can play football at a very high level. I am very productive as my numbers show, I can do it from different positions and I am still getting better every day. I am smart, a quick learner, high football IQ, and my work ethic is insane. All else aside, I love this game, my passion is off the charts for what I do, and the one thing that nobody can measure is heart, I've got more than enough of that.
Q: Who has been the most influential person off the field for you during your career?
A: It would be very obvious and deserving to say my family because they have been amazing at all times, but I think it is long overdue that a special person gets her shout out. My girlfriend, Marissa Jensen, has been by my side for the last three years and without her I wouldn't be who I am now. She supports me in everything that I do, brings me up when I am down, and loves me unconditionally. I can't say enough about her, and I love her.
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