WVU Football: Most Electrictrifying Players Since 2000
By Phil Poling
Owen Schmitt, Fullback – Jersey No. 35 (2005-2007)
When you think of football, “Most Electrifying Player” isn’t a phrase you’d usually associate with the fullback position, especially in today’s wide-open game. That holds true for most players – except Mountaineer Owen Schmitt.
Schmitt was a walk-on at WVU, but made his presence known to disbelievers. He instantly won the starting job in Rich Rodriguez’s offense as the lead blocker, and would be a key component in his running attack. He rumbled for just over 1,000 rushing yards in his career and accounted for 15 total touchdowns, 13 on the ground.
He earned the nickname, “The Runaway Beer Truck” from WVU’s play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi, but it was his intensity and blocking that drew fans to the fullback.
After WVU’s 2008 48-28 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma, Schmitt not only etched his name in Mountaineer history forever – but also our hearts with this emotional postgame interview.
Schmitt was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round of the 2008 NFL Draft Draft, but wouldn’t last very long. You hear of old time players “playing in the wrong era,” Schmitt falls in that category. Most teams don’t even have a fullback on their roster today, but Schmitt would’ve been a force to be reckoned with pre-spread offenses.