Commitment Report: Tyson Schilling (Cretin-Derham Hall-2020)

The junior college route for football is generally afforded for the desperate, the overlooked, or the dreamers, and 2020 Cretin-Derham Hall speedster Tyson Schilling is one of Minnesota’s best examples in 2020 of the latter two options. Since Northstar Football News’ last “Recruiting Report” with the CDH Raider in October, Schilling’s recruitment got hot. When we spoke last, the senior only held an offer from NAIA Judson University, and since then the WR received more than half a dozen offers from institutions across all levels of the college football. Schilling - who posted a sub 4.6 40 yard dash time - ultimately decided to bet on himself and head to Council Bluffs, Iowa to play at the Midwest’s premier JUCO Iowa Western Community College. The Reivers are getting a potential game-changer in the Mendota Heights native, and Schilling was kind enough to give NFN some time to answer some questions about what appealed to him about the juco route, how Iowa Western came into the mix after scholarship offers came his way, some memorable games of his senior season in 2019, and more! Enjoy! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BmcM9">Senior Season WR</a> NFN: Hello and congratulations on your decision, Tyson! Please begin by telling us a little bit about your personal recruitment process. You had JUCO, NAIA, DIII, and DII offers, and it seems like IWCC came into the picture late. Can you give us any insight into how your commitment to them really began? Schilling: “The recruiting process for me was actually a really fun experience. Although it ended up getting stressful and hard near the end, I’m so thankful to be put in that position. The first time I heard from a school was in the beginning of November after my junior season. The first school to reach out to me was actually Yale University. From there on it really started with lots of d3 schools and worked its way up over time. My initial reaction was actually very surprised. I had just changed to WR as I transferred into CDH as a QB. So to see schools interested in my talent at that position for only being there less than a year, was very humbling. I initially transfer to CDH being really basketball heavy. I thought that’s where my future laid and obviously it took quite a turn. Throughout that basketball season I started doing a lot of offseason training. I trained before games some days, after, and weekend mornings. I started to really fall in love with the grind and I saw my potential in myself. Over that time of the hoops season I started getting in contact with more and more schools. I was very open to the entire recruiting process and didn’t burn any bridges with any schools because I never knew what could happen in the future. The Northern Sun schools started to roll in near camp season of the summer. I was getting tons of camp invites from Big 10 schools to Division 3 schools. I travelled to multiple locations for camps in the midwest and it definitely boosted my recruiting. I picked up my first two offers in that summer from Minnesota Crookston and Judson University. After camps I would get most of the same replies that many schools said they wanted to watch me over my senior year and get film, or that we would stay in touch. I attended the University of Minnesota camp twice and balled out. The coaches said they loved everything about me, but I just wasn’t seen as “fast enough”. Ever since then, I worked extra hard. I got in contact with my new trainer who I actually met at the U of M camp and said let’s get to work. I had a huge chip on my shoulder heading forward. From that moment on I put my head down and was determined. I trained all summer preparing for my senior season. I went from running a 4.75 at that camp, to now breaking a 4.5 on a 40 yard dash. My senior season approached and the recruiting really went up during the year. I finished with around 10 offers, and many schools that said if I visited campus I would receive an offer. Some where Crookston, Judson, UMary, Jamestown, Concordia St. Paul, University of Saint Thomas, Iowa Western, and some others. Tons of NAIA schools contacted me, the main ones I talked too the national champs of Morningside College and Grand View University. I also had a Prep school opportunity at Milford Academy in New York. I had some walk on opportunities as well at schools like Wagner and UMD. It honestly was almost any school in the Midwest below division 1 I had been getting recruited by. I can’t quite explain why many division 1 schools didn’t reach out too me, but it’s why I keep working the way I do. A big park of it I believe would be my film wasn’t quite where it should have been or I started kind of late in the recruiting process. My recruiting process definitely took a turn I wasn’t expecting. I can’t lie, I always looked into juco from the very beginning of my high school career. I know I’m the kind of kid with the right mind set and work ethic that I can thrive in any environment. Iowa Central and Iowa Western were my only junior college visits. I was going to go and visit some California Junior Colleges as well such as Butte College and Fresno City. I visited Iowa Central on MLK day, and Western that following Saturday. They both were honestly a super last minute and weren’t really in my head until the last two weeks of my recruiting. Both were really good experiences, but Iowa Western blew me out of the water. It’s in a nice location only 10 minutes from Omaha.” NFN: Very well said, Tyson! Besides what you mentioned already, what else made you commit to Iowa Western? Additionally, what is appealing to you about the JUCO route and what does IWCC offer that’s special in-terms of junior colleges? Schilling: “Throughout the whole process people told me that you will know when you find a place that just feels, right. I really didn’t feel that with many schools I visited. Once I went to Western, I instantly felt what people were talking about. My first reaction was just how put together the program was. From the coaching staff to facilities, it was the most professional things get. The coaches and I got along very well and I already feel really close with them. We had long conversations about the kind of person I am and the potential I have. Me and my dad looked at each other in the coaches office, and just smiled. We knew this was the right fit for me. The school really impressed me with their placement of athletes at the next level. They won a national championship only 3 years after starting their program and had quickly become a dominant and respected program. They have been high in the national rankings every year and are known for being a legit program to college coaches. They really emphasized how they want to send you out with better options than you came in with. My goal has always been to get a full ride division 1 scholarship. I felt like this was a perfect place and opportunity to accomplish that goal. The Juco route has always appealed to me like I stated before, but it really did once I got on campus and visited. Many people get the wrong idea of the whole Juco thing do to shows like Last Chance U that really give it a negative look. But really it isn’t like that at all. I see it as a place full of guys who all want to succeed, and surround themselves with greatness. Everybody their has some type of chip on their shoulder weather it’s academically or athletically, and want to prove others wrong. Exactly people like myself. I have big dreams and I felt like this was the most realistic and best opportunity for me to accomplish those dreams. You only get to play football for so long and you never know when it’s all gonna be taken from you, so why not have no regrets! I really look forward to proving myself in one of the best Junior College leagues out there.” NFN: No doubt. Now get into CDH’s 2019 season. What were some memorable games for you? And how was your career personally? Schilling: “My season started off very good actually. We started off 4-0 and were ranked top 3 in the state. I was happy with how things were going as long as the team overall was succeeding. After that unfortunately, we lost the next 5 in a row. We had such expectations of being state champs and no doubt had the talent for it. We lost no game by more than 3, and seems like one single mistake was the cause for every loss. It was very hard to deal with emotionally, but all I can do it build and learn from this kind of experience. I made bonds with some guys here that will last me a lifetime, and I’m more than thankful for being able to come here and do my thing! My most memorable game here was probably East Ridge. It is our big rival game and it was fun to have them back at home and get some revenge. I scored about a 55 yard touchdown on a bomb, and I remember the feeling of scoring that touchdown. So much relief went though my body and happiness. My junior year I didn’t get any huge plays or touchdowns and I have been waiting for that moment for so long. I remember being so hyped and happy, because all that hard work I had put in had finally paid off. Me and my parents instantly looked at each other in the stands and smiled. It was a moment that is always gonna stay with me. Overall my career has been completely all over the place! I have never had a high school coach in any sport for longer than 1 year. So I’ve never really got to build that close bond connection with a coach or became really close with them. I’ve switched positions, switched schools, so I’ve never been necessarily “comfortable”. But that’s what I think is so special about myself. I don’t need to necessarily be comfortable to succeed. I work with what I’m given, and give my full 110% every time. I know that my immense passion and work ethic will not only carry me far in my football career, but my life as well. I’m so excited to see where I land in the future and just how much I am going to accomplish in my journey.” NFN: Last but not least, what position will you be playing in college? And what kind of player is IWCC getting? Schilling: “In college i will be playing both slot receiver and outside receiver. I love to learn every position so I can be used in every way possible. I’ve been training non stop on my releases, routes, and speed and agility work. Im on a 7 on 7 team as well with my trainer so I am constantly getting work in. I’m ready to come in and make an impact as soon as possible. I will do anything I can to benefit the team and make my coaches happy. I know I am going to be in a great environment with great people around me that will help me succeed. I can’t wait to get down to Council Bluffs, and shock the nation!” I feel very good about Schilling’s choice to go the JUCO route, and I am going to be steadfastly keeping an eye on the wideout in 2020. Good luck, Tyson!