A recurring series where we will profile every player on Maryland's roster, counting down to kick-off against William & Mary on September 1. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we start with the tight ends.
Ryan Schlothauer, Senior (RS), Tight End, #81
via grfx.cstv.com
Stats:
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 260
Major: Operations Management
Twitter: @schlot81
Collegiate Stats: 25 games, four kick returns for 47 yards
High School Stats (Senior Year): 75 tackles and 12 sacks
Recruiting Ratings: N/A
High School: Eastern Technical
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
High School Highlights:
None that we could find.
How'd He Get to College Park?
Ryan Schlothauer was an absolute stud at Eastern Tech, being named to the first team all-state, all-county, and all-metro teams as a senior in 2007. He played defensive end and tight end for the Mavericks, winning Digital Sports’ Defensive Player of the Year Award for Baltimore County, and also played basketball.
He was a preferred walk-on at Maryland, meaning he was recruited to play at the school but not offered a scholarship. He was offered schollies to a host of FCS schools, and received interest from Ivy Leagues, but ended up in College Park. After redshirting his first year and impressing on the squad team, he spent his freshman year on the practice squad as well, earning offensive player of the week three times, a team high.
As a sophomore, he played in all 13 games, mostly on special teams. Last year, he played in twelve games, returning three kicks and seeing more time as a reserve tight end. Prior to last season, it was announced that Schlothauer, along with three other walk-ons, would be awarded a scholarship.
In each of the past two years, Schlothauer has won the George Boutselis Memorial Award for highest GPA on the team.
Nickname:
Ryan "Scrabble" Schlothauer
Career Highlight:
Earning a scholarship last year.
Career Lowlight:
N/A. He's done more than you could ever expect out of a walk-on.
Dream Season:
Schlothauer gets his first collegiate reception.
Nightmare Season:
Schlothauer is restricted to special teams play.
2012 Prospectus:
Ryan Schlothauer is actually listed third on Maryland's tight end depth chart, in front of Dave Stinebaugh and behind Devonte Campbell and starter Matt Furstenburg. That's likely due to an injury that Stinebaugh was battling through during spring, and seeing Schlothauer anywhere but fourth at the position would be a surprise.
Schlothauer has had a fantastic career for a walk-on at Maryland, and while he hasn't put together any stats in the receiving game, he's been a contributor on special teams throughout his career and has done well enough in Spring Games for the Terps to feel comfortable with him as a back-up tight end option if there are enough injuries to make it necessary.
As a fifth-year senior who has contributed throughout his career but does not have any offensive statistics to show for it, it's reasonable to expect Maryland coaches to try and get him involved late in a blow-out game - the opener against William & Mary comes to mind. So keep an eye out for number 81 - he's earned it.
Up Next:
Our next player went to two different military academies before Maryland.
Terpsonfire gets his third in a row.
Standings:
Maryland1206 - 8
kbuts151 - 6
Dirty_Terps - 5
Terpsonfire - 4
bubbasparks -3
ClickClack62 -2
T Free - 1
Terpsfinish - 1
Mdak06 - 1
clevesanterp - 1
CSB Jack - 1
Everybody else - 0