O'Brien Schofield
Encyclopedia
O'Brien Schofield is an American football
linebacker
for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. As a fifth-year redshirt senior for the 2009 Wisconsin Badgers
he ranked second in the nation in tackle
s for a loss (TFLs) and second in the Big Ten Conference
in quarterback sack
s. For the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
, he earned several second team and honorable mention All-American recognitions by various publications. He was a first-team 2009 All-Big Ten Conference
selection. He earned the defensive MVP award at the 2010 East–West Shrine Game
, but was injured during practice for the 2010 Senior Bowl
the subsequent week.
. Schofield is a cousin of both Vonnie Holliday
and Bobby Engram
who both have had long National Football League
careers. Schofield attended North Chicago Community High School
. In high school Schofield was a Lake County, Illinois
2003 All-county second team selection and 2004 first team selection in football. He was also a special mention All-state selection in 2004. In basketball, he was an All-county honorable mention for 2004–05. In high school he played wide receiver
as a sophomore, defensive end
as a junior and end, linebacker
, receiver, fullback
, placekicker
, kick returner
and punt returner
as a senior. He also ran track. Scout.com
rated him as the 55th best high school football
linebacker in the country. Rivals.com
ranked him as the 24th best defensive end in the country and the 24th best football prosepect in Illinois.
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and recorded no statistics although he appeared in five games for the 2006 Badgers
. He recorded his first tackle on September 15 for the 2007 Badgers
against The Citadel Bulldogs and his first sack and TFL on August 30 for the 2008 team
against the Akron Zips
. He concluded his career with a total of 17 sacks and 33 TFLs. He also accumulated 4 forced fumble
s.
He was the 2009 Big Ten Conference
runner-up in sacks with 12 to Ryan Kerrigan
and runner-up in TFLs with 24.5 to Brandon Graham
. He ranked second in the nation in TFLs/game. At the conclusion of the 2009 Big Ten Conference football season
he was a 2009 First-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
He concluded his career for Wisconsin Badgers football
with the 2009 team in the December 29, 2009 Champs Sports Bowl
. For the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
, he was a second team All-American selection by Scout.com
and an honorable mention by College Football News
, Sports Illustrated
, and Pro Football Weekly
. During the season he was the October 4, 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his October 3 performance against the Minnesota Golden Gophers
. He was selected as a midseason semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.
The January 23, 2010 East–West Shrine Game, in which he earned defensive MVP, was his last game. He recorded an interception on a Max Hall
pass
and made three solo tackles in the game. Schofield was projected to play linebacker
in the NFL. During the week of practice at the Shrine Game, he performed with the linebackers in order to demonstrate his NFL potential for scouts. However, in the subsequent week of practice for the January 30, 2010 Senior Bowl, Schofield tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
on the physically unable to perform list, but is expected to return late in the year as an outside linebacker. Although he played on the defensive line in college, he is projected to play outside linebacker for the Cardinals who have Joey Porter
and Will Davis
on their roster. Schofield signed a 4-year contract on July 27, 2010. On August 31, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
. Schofield forced a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings
on November 7 on kick coverage that was recovered for a touchdown. Schofield recorded his first NFL sack on December 25, 2010, when he sacked QB Stephen McGee
for an 11 yard loss in a 27-26 Arizona win over the Dallas Cowboys
. In the Cardinals January 2, 2011 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers
, Schofield sacked QB Alex Smith for a 5 yard loss.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. As a fifth-year redshirt senior for the 2009 Wisconsin Badgers
2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2009 Wisconsin Badgers football team competed on behalf of the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers were coached by Bret Bielema and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin...
he ranked second in the nation in tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s for a loss (TFLs) and second in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
in quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s. For the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
, he earned several second team and honorable mention All-American recognitions by various publications. He was a first-team 2009 All-Big Ten Conference
2009 Big Ten Conference football season
The 2009 Big Ten Conference football season was the 114th for the conference, and saw Ohio State conclude the regular season as Big Ten Conference champion for the 5th consecutive time, their 34th Big Ten title. This earned them the conference's automatic selection to a Bowl Championship Series...
selection. He earned the defensive MVP award at the 2010 East–West Shrine Game
2010 East–West Shrine Game
The 2010 East–West Shrine Game was the 85th staging of the all-star college football exhibition game featuring NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision players. The game featured over 100 players from the 2009 college football season, and prospects for the 2010 Draft of the professional National...
, but was injured during practice for the 2010 Senior Bowl
2010 Senior Bowl
The 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl was an all-star college football exhibition game featuring players from the 2009 college football season, and prospects for the 2010 Draft of the professional National Football League , as well as for the United Football League's inaugural draft.The game was played...
the subsequent week.
Background
His uncle Andre Carter played safety at ClemsonClemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Schofield is a cousin of both Vonnie Holliday
Vonnie Holliday
Dimetry Giovonni "Vonnie" Holliday is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 19th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft...
and Bobby Engram
Bobby Engram
Simon J. "Bobby" Engram III is currently the offensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
who both have had long National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
careers. Schofield attended North Chicago Community High School
North Chicago Community High School
North Chicago Community High School, also known as North Chicago and NCCHS, is a public four-year high school located in North Chicago, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of --North Chicago School District 187]]...
. In high school Schofield was a Lake County, Illinois
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
2003 All-county second team selection and 2004 first team selection in football. He was also a special mention All-state selection in 2004. In basketball, he was an All-county honorable mention for 2004–05. In high school he played wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
as a sophomore, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
as a junior and end, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, receiver, fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
, placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
and punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
as a senior. He also ran track. Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
rated him as the 55th best high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
linebacker in the country. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked him as the 24th best defensive end in the country and the 24th best football prosepect in Illinois.
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College
Schofield did not appear in any games for the 2005 Badgers2005 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2005 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Barry Alvarez, the Badgers completed the season with a 10-3 record, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten Conference, good for a third-place tie with...
and recorded no statistics although he appeared in five games for the 2006 Badgers
2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers completed the season with a 12-1 record, including a 7-1 mark in the Big Ten Conference, good for a...
. He recorded his first tackle on September 15 for the 2007 Badgers
2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers completed the season with a 9-4 record, including a 5-3 mark in Big Ten Conference play...
against The Citadel Bulldogs and his first sack and TFL on August 30 for the 2008 team
2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers were coached by Bret Bielema and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin....
against the Akron Zips
2008 Akron Zips football team
The 2008 Akron Zips football team represented The University of Akron in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the football season...
. He concluded his career with a total of 17 sacks and 33 TFLs. He also accumulated 4 forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s.
He was the 2009 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
runner-up in sacks with 12 to Ryan Kerrigan
Ryan Kerrigan
Patrick Ryan Kerrigan is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins with the 16th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.-Early years:Kerrigan attended Muncie Central High...
and runner-up in TFLs with 24.5 to Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham (American football)
Brandon Lee Graham is an American football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the thirteenth selection in the draft and the first from the Big Ten Conference...
. He ranked second in the nation in TFLs/game. At the conclusion of the 2009 Big Ten Conference football season
2009 Big Ten Conference football season
The 2009 Big Ten Conference football season was the 114th for the conference, and saw Ohio State conclude the regular season as Big Ten Conference champion for the 5th consecutive time, their 34th Big Ten title. This earned them the conference's automatic selection to a Bowl Championship Series...
he was a 2009 First-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
He concluded his career for Wisconsin Badgers football
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
with the 2009 team in the December 29, 2009 Champs Sports Bowl
2009 Champs Sports Bowl
The 2009 Champs Sports Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference and the Miami Hurricanes of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, the game started at 8:00 PM US EST on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 and was...
. For the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on September 2, 2009, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Pasadena, California on January 7, 2010, featuring the...
, he was a second team All-American selection by Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
and an honorable mention by College Football News
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
. During the season he was the October 4, 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his October 3 performance against the Minnesota Golden Gophers
2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
The 2009 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team was the third under head coach Tim Brewster. They began play on September 5, 2009, at Syracuse, a member of the Big East Conference. On September 12, the Minnesota opened the new TCF Bank Stadium with a 20–13 win against Air Force, moving from the...
. He was selected as a midseason semifinalists for the Bednarik Award.
The January 23, 2010 East–West Shrine Game, in which he earned defensive MVP, was his last game. He recorded an interception on a Max Hall
Max Hall
Max Hall is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at BYU.-Early years:...
pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
and made three solo tackles in the game. Schofield was projected to play linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the NFL. During the week of practice at the Shrine Game, he performed with the linebackers in order to demonstrate his NFL potential for scouts. However, in the subsequent week of practice for the January 30, 2010 Senior Bowl, Schofield tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
Professional career
Schofield was drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft, 130th overall, by the Arizona Cardinals. Since Schofield was injured, he was considered a good value because his talent level was near first round draft choice level. He is expected to begin the 2010 NFL season2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
on the physically unable to perform list, but is expected to return late in the year as an outside linebacker. Although he played on the defensive line in college, he is projected to play outside linebacker for the Cardinals who have Joey Porter
Joey Porter
Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Colorado State.A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter earned a...
and Will Davis
Will Davis (American football)
William Benjamin Davis, Jr. is a American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois.-Early years:...
on their roster. Schofield signed a 4-year contract on July 27, 2010. On August 31, he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.
2010 season
He made his NFL debut on October 31 in Week 8, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 35th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games...
. Schofield forced a fumble against the Minnesota Vikings
2010 Minnesota Vikings season
The 2010 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League, and the fifth under head coach Brad Childress until November 22, when he was fired and Leslie Frazier was named interim head coach...
on November 7 on kick coverage that was recovered for a touchdown. Schofield recorded his first NFL sack on December 25, 2010, when he sacked QB Stephen McGee
Stephen McGee
Stephen Richard McGee is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for Texas A&M....
for an 11 yard loss in a 27-26 Arizona win over the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. In the Cardinals January 2, 2011 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers
2010 San Francisco 49ers season
The 2010 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 65th season, and the second full year with Mike Singletary as the head coach. The 49ers were looking to build upon their 8–8 season in 2009 that ended their streak of seven consecutive losing seasons and to get into the postseason for the...
, Schofield sacked QB Alex Smith for a 5 yard loss.
External links
- Schofield's college profile at ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
- Schofield at NCAA.org
- Schofield's professional profile at ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
- Schofield's professional profile at CBSSports.comCBSSports.comCBSSports.com was founded in 1994 as SportsLine USA, and today is a CBS-owned website that provides sports scores, news, statistics, live and on-demand video, mobile apps, e-commerce, fantasy sports products, services, and information..Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, CBSSports.com it is...
- Schofield at AZCardinals.com
- Wisconsin Bio