A standout multi-sport athlete at Jesuit Dallas, Jeff Schoettmer captured all-district first team honors while helping the Rangers to district titles in baseball and basketball, but his performance on the gridiron vaulted him to an acclaimed college career and the doorstep of the National Football League (NFL). As an all-state linebacker, district MVP, and three-time all-district first team selection, Schoettmer pieced together one of the most dominant defensive careers in the history of Jesuit and helped further the School’s reputation as a formidable program in the metroplex.
The career linebacker racked up 223 career tackles, eight interceptions, five fumbles, three sacks, and five blocked kicks donning the Blue & Gold, including 103 tackles and three interceptions during a sensational senior season.
Schoettmer continued his football career at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he immediately made an impact for the Tar Heels following a redshirt season, as he appeared in all 12 games and recorded 23 tackles during his first year wearing Carolina Blue. He scripted a breakout sophomore campaign that included 85 tackles over 11 starts, and helped North Carolina win the 2013 Belk Bowl against Cincinnati. His success continued in 2014, and after recording a pick-six in the season-opener against Liberty, he finished the year as the Tar Heels’ leading tackler with 74 stops.
Selected as a team captain for the 2015 season, Schoettmer helped guide UNC to an 11-3 record, the ACC Costal Championship, and a berth in the ACC Championship game. He finished the campaign with 97 tackles and a pair of interceptions and was named to the All-ACC All-Conference Team.
After finishing a wildly successful collegiate career that included 38 starts (27 consecutive), 279 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions, five fumble recoveries and a forced fumble, Schoettmer signed an undrafted free agent deal with the New Orleans Saints in May of 2016. From 2018-22, he served as an assistant coach on the UNC-Chapel Hill staff where he helped mentor the next generation of Tar Heel linebackers.
