UPDATE: Summer 2022 – Bryce Schondelmyer has transferred to Springfield (Ohio) High School, where he’ll play for the 2021 Division One state runner-up. Story from the archives of Football In Ohio.
Tucked away in Darke County, Ohio, in the small town of Arcanum may be one of Ohio’s top Under the Radar quarterback prospects in Bryce Schondelmyer.
At the recent Best of the Midwest Combine, Schondelmyer stepped forward and showed why the 6-foot-1, 195-pound signal-caller is a prospect in the Class of 2023 to watch this summer.
Football In Ohio spoke with Schondelmyer about his experiences at the Best of the Midwest and the direction of his recruitment.
“It was fun and good to compete against guys from areas you usually don’t see,” said Schondelmyer. “Getting to throw to some good receivers and receive some good quarterback coaching was excellent. So I enjoyed it.”
The recent success of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has proven quarterbacks from even the smallest towns in Ohio can work and get their chance to find success.
“Arcanum (just over 2,000 population) is a smaller town,” he said. “We don’t get much publicity, but I’ve had a pretty successful career so far. I’ve had some great teammates, my dad is the head coach, so I’ve also had some great coaches.
“It’s been fun, and I’m excited about what we’ve accomplished. In eighth grade, the high school team only won two games. Since then, we’ve won seven, six, and eight games. So my teammates and I have turned the program around. So it’s been great.”
One thing that stands out when you watch Schondelmyer is his wearing jersey number 44. Why and when did he decide to wear the double four on his chest?
“I initially didn’t play quarterback when I started playing football in first grade,” he continued. “I probably played everywhere on the field but didn’t start playing quarterback until eighth grade. My dad wore the number 44, and the quarterback at Michigan (Devin Gardner) wore No. 98, and I felt that was unique, and I liked that. So it was partly to do with my dad wearing it and the fact I didn’t want to wear your typical quarterback number. I felt it was something people would remember.”
Like many high school players looking to gain exposure, Covid has played a role in limiting opportunities in the recruiting process. So how did Covid affect Schondelmyer?
“It has affected it some,” he said. “More virtual things are happening now, which could be good or bad. I don’t feel my class has been impacted as much as the 2021 or 2022 class, but we’ve had to change things.
“My sophomore season was a bit different as we only played six regular-season games. However, I was happy that last summer we could get out for summer camps, and I’m looking forward to getting back out this summer.”
What camps did Schondelmyer attend last summer?
“Last summer, I took part in a group camp tour,” he said. “We took a charter bus to colleges in the South and then headed back to the Midwest.
“We started at Mercer University for their mega camp then visited Clemson, South Carolina, and North Carolina State before coming back this way and camping at Miami University, Purdue, and Eastern Kentucky. So I’ve done a lot of camps so far.”
What summer plans does Schondelmyer have for this summer?
“I’m looking forward to visiting some of the Mid-American Conference schools this summer,” he continued. “I’ve been talking with coaches at Bowling Green and recently visited Northern Illinois.
“First, I’ll be taking part in the Elite 11 at Massillon (Ohio) High School in early April.”
Last season, Schondelmyer enjoyed a solid season passing for 3,278 yards and 45 touchdowns while also showing his overall athletic ability by rushing for 856 yards and 12 scores. However, the player we saw on Junior film and the player we watched at the Best of the Midwest have changed as his physical frame continues to fill out and he continues working on fine-tuning his mechanics.
This summer could move Bryce Schondelmyer from Under the Radar prospect to one of Ohio’s top quarterback prospects as Ohio’s Class of 2023 looks to be lacking at the position.
