The final OL that we will select is yet another Division 1 talent in Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI . Sam is checking a lot of boxes and improving quickly where necessary. Size, length, and athleticism have long been the keys to his success, but now this past season we saw a jump in his strength and an increase in that nasty mentality to want to punish his opponents. Big things are ahead for Sam.

West De Pere is a lucky program as we turn our attention to the 2nd OL from the program included in this article. Holding down the blindside for the Phantoms we have the 6’6″ 270 lbs 2027 OT Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI . Sam is another elite example of the depth in this OL Class. He possesses, and plays with, fantastic length. He always seems to be the first to make contact between him and his opponent. You see that upper body strength over and over as he steers and tosses DL around the trenches. The lower body is also effective to dig DL out of gaps. The big man can move too. Sam has hundreds of reps in pass pro that highlight his use of his length, light feet, and stout anchor when needed. The big man is steadily improving too. I can’t wait to see him this summer.

Currently, Sam holds offers from North Dakota State, Central Michigan, Lindenwood, Northern Illinois, North Dakota, Sacramento State, and South Dakota State.

The WDP offense was blessed with two outstanding junior OTs. We will talk about one a little later, but first up we have LT Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI . I saw Sam in 2024 and was intrigued. Fast forward to this year and now it is a feeling of vindication. The 2027 is one of the top OL in a very deep class. Outstanding frame with length, power, room to grow/fill out, and athleticism that helps him shine on the blindside. Sam was excellent in their final game. Light on his feet, nimble to mirror counter moves, and powerful to shut down pass rushers when he got good hand positioning. Sam is further verifying that he is one of the best of the best in this Class.

Rise: 20 -> 11

Sam has done a great job of putting himself among the best in an OL Class that will make WI proud for years to come. His 6’6″ 265 lbs frame comes equipped with a 79″ wingspan, allowing him to always be the first to land that initial strike. The starting LT brings excellent range to the position, proving he can easily get to the opposite edge and kick out a defender or lead up through a gap to level two. Overall, Sam does a great job of being light on his feet while getting to level two or mirroring and reacting to pass rushers. The difference maker is how Sam is still able to stay loaded up with power while moving with that range and fluidity. The rising OL has earned an offer from South Dakota State this offseason. He and his teammates are poised for a season to remember.

It was a great showing for 2027 OT Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI at the Mega Camp. He had a fantastic check-in verifying his 6’6″ 265 lbs listed frame. I made sure to take in a few of his reps when the pads went on. The big man is a special athlete. He is so light on his feet, and has the balance and body control to make mirroring pass rushers look effortless. The incoming junior does really well trusting his athleticism and not reaching for his opponent. He knows he can get hands on first with that elite length and from there he has the agility and power to win. It is also clear that his frame is going to be able to hold closer to 300 lbs really well because the 265 lbs on him has only just started to fill him out. The arrow is pointing straight up for this kid. He even recently earned his first offer from South Dakota State.

Schmidt demonstrated athleticism and upper-body strength in both pass-circuit work and run-block drills. The junior from West De Pere confidently attacked speed rushers with striking hands and balance. His poised feet maintain stability and poise. His natural physicality give him a promising base to grow upon.

One of the top new additions during the 2027 rankings update was West De Pere’s left tackle Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI . The sophomore clearly looks the part on tape with his long, lean frame that is ready for that next jump in weight room improvement and mass. It was great to get some verified numbers on the impressive OT. Sam measured in at 6’4.5″ 256.2 lbs with an elite 6’6.75″ wingspan, and 10.25″ hands. The tape shows that the big man can cover ground when he pulls or gets out in space. So his 5.23 40 time was a good number to see. Schmidt brings a lot of uncoachable traits to the field. Don’t miss out on this kid.

It is so fun watching the development of these massive OT recruits. At an early age you see different strengths of their game develop faster than other parts. With Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI , the 6’6″ 265 lbs LT, his mobility, flexibility, and overall athleticism are his major strengths on top of his elite frame/length. Sam is able to comfortably pull across the formation and lead up to the second level. His feet are quick and allow him to position himself so he has the leverage and is always between the ball and defender. The quickly rising OT also does pack a punch on contact, but there is a lot more room for strength gains that will take his game to another level.

Sophomore Sam Schmidt Sam Schmidt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL/LS West De Pere | 2027 State WI mans the starting left tackle spot on the West De Pere varsity. Sam has an excellent frame that has so much room to bulk up. He carries the 250 lbs very easily. The ’27 OT has a great base of talent to build on over the coming years. The range, quick feet, and power are all there for him to dominate in the run game. Where he gets a ton of work is in pass protection. WDP isn’t afraid to let it fly 40+ times in a game, and holding down the blindside is Sam. His ability to use his length and quick feet to control and stay in front of are major strengths. He has the anchor to handle bull rushers too. He is a name to know in the Class of 2027. You can still catch him in action this year as West De Pere is still in the playoffs.