Beth Long @Beth_Long 11m11 minutes ago
LFA's
@THschaffer came to the states from Austria 1.5 yrs ago. He talks learning a lot, fast about American Football:
http://recruiting.At their request, this network is being blocked from this site./story/1520230-schaffer-s-journey?s=73…
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Feb 22, 2015 | 03:18 pm
Schaffer's Journey
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Beth LongMidwest Field Reporter
Thomas Schaffer from Lake Forest Academy.
Just a year and a half ago, Schaffer came to board at Lake Forest Academy from Austria -- where his family still lives.
Since the move, Schaffer has not only had to adjust to boarding school, American life, American football on the field, but also the landscape of the NCAA -- something he knew very little about when he moved to the States.
"I came in August 2013. In Austria in 2012, everyone knew these three teams:
Alabama,
LSU, and
Oregon. It was like everyone knew those three teams for some reason," Schaffer said. "And, I have known about them and like related
Nick Saban to Alabama."
He added, "Otherwise, it was pretty much
Wisconsin, Oregon, and I mean I have played on NCAA with teams like
TCU. I honestly didn't know much when I moved, but now I know the top 128 teams very well."
The recruiting process has been surreal for Schaffer -- who has recently added offers from Oregon, Wisconsin and many others.
"Oregon was pretty much the first team that I got involved with here," Schaffer said. "And of course back hoe you see people wear sweatshirts from other teams. Like, for example
Ohio State. I have seen a couple people back home wearing Ohio State sweatshirts. Then I come here for one year and I know exactly what Ohio State is all about."
The most recent offer for Schaffer came from the Badgers.
"I have heard about them in Austria, I knew about Wisconsin. I don't know how but I followed them for a while. And their linebacker
Chris Borland is a shorter guy but he is one of the best players I have ever seen. I like the community there, that is all I have known about Wisconsin. I think I am going to visit soon to see what it is all about."
It may be a whole different landscape of football, but Schaffer is enjoying the continual adjustment and learning as much as he can about every program he hears from.
"It is just a great feeling, talking to the coaches just I can't describe it because I would have never thought that this would happen to me. When I heard about the offer from Oregon, it really still hasn't set in. The same with getting the offer from Wisconsin," Schaffer said. "They had defensive lineman like
J.J. Watt, who is my size. It's just a great feeling to see how it is happening and talk to the coaches about what you could do at their school and giving you love about everything."
