MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Owen Schmitt is kind of a big deal.

The former West Virginia fullback and helmet-crushing sensation just wrapped up his second year in the NFL all the way in Seattle, where he finished with 21 yards receiving, one touchdown and one self-inflicted concussion.

Seattle is a long way from West Virginia, and the NFL is a far cry from the world of NCAA football. But Schmitt has far from forgotten the University that put him on the map and gave him the opportunity to make his lifelong dream a reality.

“Being a Mountaineer means everything to me,” said Schmitt. “When we went through all that stuff before the Fiesta Bowl two years ago, it really showed the true character of the team. That’s something I’ll always remember—and I’ll always be proud of.”

Schmitt’s road to the NFL has been quite an impressive one, especially considering he came to West Virginia as a walk-on from Division III when he transferred from Wisconsin-River Falls in 2006.

It didn’t take long for head coach Rich Rodriguez to realize his newest walk-on was a diamond in the rough. During his time in Morgantown, Schmitt racked up 1,003 rushing yards, 122 points and ten broken face masks. With hard work and a personality that made him a fan favorite, he had made his mark as one of the best collegiate fullbacks in the country.

Despite his successes, five years ago he never would have dreamed he would be making touchdowns on FOX NFL Sunday. “I remember when my dream was just to get into a Division I program. Luckily, things just really found a place for me and it was great timing,” said Schmitt. “West Virginia was a really good click for me. I can’t tell you how much that’s meant to me. And where I’m at now, there’s a select few of us that get the chance to do this. It’s really amazing, and I know that.”

Since Seattle’s season ended in January, Schmitt has found another click. He’s been traveling with the Davisson Brothers band and entertaining his fans with a different talent—playing the guitar.

“I met the band at WISP last year. I saw them play, and ended up hanging out with them one night. They asked me to play a song with them,” said Schmitt. “I had only been playing the guitar for a year, but I’ve gotten a lot of experience since then and I’ve just been having a lot of fun with it. I’m a lot more interactive in the shows than I used to be, and it’s a great way to unwind in the offseason.”
 

When Schmitt isn’t jamming on the road, he’s been busy competing with teammate Justin Griffith for the fullback job. When Griffith found himself on the injured reserve list and was subsequently released from the Seahawks, it was Owen’s chance to shine—and not surprisingly, he made the most of it. He found the end zone for the first time this year October 4 against Indianapolis.

“It felt great scoring that touchdown, but it was bittersweet,” said Schmitt. “We weren’t doing so well against the Colts, so I basically scored and jogged on back to the sideline.”

While Schmitt is busy trying to score touchdowns, he’s never too busy to catch his former teammates on Saturdays—even though it’s sometimes painful. “Watching the Mountaineers play is so hard, because I just want to be there, helping the team out and making things happen,” said Schmitt. “You sit there and think, ‘Man, I could be doing so much out there right now.’ But it’s just part of life, you move on and that’s the way it is.”

And in the process of moving on, Schmitt has found the intensity of the NFL and the competition it demands is part of the challenge—and the excitement.

“Competition is great, that’s what the NFL thrives on,” said Schmitt. “The competition at this level has just skyrocketed since college. Each team has just one or two spots for a position. At this level, more is better. The more you practice, the better you can do, and the more you can help yourself and prolong your career.”

That’s just one of the lessons the soon-to-be third-year Seahawk has learned along the way. And he’s quick to tell you that learning was quite the adjustment the first time around.

“When you’re a rookie, you’re constantly worrying what people expect of you and whether or not you’re going to get cut.

It’s stressful,” said Schmitt. “The second year, you get a little more feeling of what they want from you, and you just improve from there.”

While he’s adjusted to the fast-paced world of the NFL, there are still things he’d like to improve before he kicks off year three as a Seahawk.

“I really want to study the game more and become more athletic overall,” said Schmitt. “That’s a huge part of the game.”

And if he can bring his A-game in the coming seasons, he’s ready to land in Seattle for the long haul.

“If I’m still playing for the Seahawks in five years, I would consider my career to be successful,” said Schmitt.

In the meantime, Owen is appreciating the good fortune he’s found on his road from West Virginia to Washington State.

“If you’re fortunate to play beyond college, you just recognize that your dreams have come true and keep playing the game you love,” said Schmitt.

And Mountaineer fans everywhere are more than happy to watch this walk-on turned legend live out his dream—a dream that found its momentum right here in the hills of West Virginia.