Name: Isaac Schley
School: Sam Houston State
Position: TE
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 251

What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

We had a number of goals going into my final season. As a team, we were coming off of a National Championship victory, so we wanted to first win our conference and then win another championship. We were successful in winning the WAC. Personally, I wanted to score my first collegiate touchdown, and to establish myself as a passing threat. I ended up scoring my first career touchdown, and I made personal strides in improving my receiving skills that aren’t necessarily reflected on the stat sheet.

Q: How do you think you took advantage of the extra year of eligibility to increase your chances of going pro?

Any time you get to practice and play more, you get better. I had a unique opportunity to play what I thought was my last season, and then get more evaluations from my coaches and really focus on improving my skillset throughout another year of playing football. I got stronger in the weight room and used practice and game experience to become a better blocker and route runner. By improving my skillset I became a better prospect.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

A favorite that I’ve heard often is that I’m not afraid to put my face into blocks. I like to play violent, especially in the run game. Players who don’t like contact don’t get up close and gritty when they’re blocking—on the contrary my face is in the block and my head positioning is key to setting up the leverage of my block. There is no fear in my style of play.

Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?

There are two things I look at, myself and my opponent. Throughout the week, you work on perfecting skills and trying new techniques. I watch both practice and game tape to make sure my feet are where they need to be, make sure they’re fast enough, check pad level, check hand and head placement, and to see if the skills and techniques I used caused me to win or lose the rep, and I adjust from them. When scouting an opponent, I like to learn the fronts and pressures, favorite situational coverages, and the play style of those I play against. Knowing their play style and the moves and techniques they will use allows me to prepare for them throughout the week so that I’m not caught off guard and can counter what they throw at me.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

I play violent and I embrace blocking. I didn’t have the touchdown scoring opportunities a lot of other tight ends in other systems get, which means I got very little attention or glory. I don’t expect a lot of attention of glory, yet I still put all my effort into my play. It’s a gritty mindset that not everyone has to develop, but I did, and it is a strength that separates me from others.

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

I’m putting a lot of time into pro day preparation. Small school guys get looked over because there is a preconception that small schools have less talent and the guys are not of equal skill compared to the bigger programs. As a small school guy, it is important that I show that I am just as athletic as my big school counterparts, and pro day is where that is demonstrated. Once that is demonstrated, I just need to continue perfecting my craft to play at a bigger, stronger, faster level of football. I am training my speed of play, pad level and leverage, and route separation.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

My character. My faith plays a huge role in my character and response to challenges and opportunities. There are many men in the league who have strong or growing faith, and when you have a community like that it encourages and grows yourself and everyone around you. I can bring that to a team. As for on the field, my character shows in maintaining composure and controlling emotions. If you don’t, you can cost your team penalties and missed assignments. Off the field, it is a strong work ethic a relentless desire to perfect my craft. Complacently can happen when you achieve goals or get paid handsomely—not me. Part of that relentless desire to perfect my craft is to take the gift of my talent and opportunity to play that God has given me and maximize it in gratitude for having been gifted these things.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?

I am ready to play, ready to learn, and ready to grind. You won’t find a more willing or grateful prospect. I can do what every other prospect can do on the field despite coming from a small school, and my effort and relentless pursuit will outshine the other prospects.