Johnny Schmitt brings size, pedigree, and steady-safety upside to Southern Illinois
In the 2024 season, Southern Illinois safety Johnny Schmitt played in 11 games and logged 8 tackles with 1.0 tackle for loss, a modest stat line that still hints at a developing defender with real role-player value[1]. The draw here is the profile: a 6-foot-1, 190-pound Chicago native who was ranked the No. 8 safety in Illinois coming out of St. Rita, suggesting upside, athleticism, and legitimate secondary instincts[1][4]. He looks like a fit for a team needing a physical, coachable back-end piece who can grow into more responsibility.
