Dan Scholz

By Chris Chaney
Sun staff

Former New Richmond High School standout linebacker Danny Scholz is making his way at Ashland University as a freshman in a new position while helping the Eagles to a national ranking of 13.

Scholz, who was a Division III All-Ohio Special Mention in his senior season, is helping his new team in any way that he can. Acting as the team’s long snapper, Scholz is finding any way he can to see some playing time, but he’s hoping to move up the depth chart at linebacker as he gets more experience.

“Right now, I’m the starting long snapper for punt and field goal,” Scholz said. “I’m third-string for linebacker right now. Depending on how well our offense is doing, I’ll get a lot of field goal or P.A.T. snaps, or if we’re not doing so well, I’ll get a lot of punt snaps.”

Adjusting the college life has been something Scholz has had to deal with in the recent months, but he seems to have a good grasp on what he needs to do to succeed both on and off the field.

“It’s really about time management,” he said. “I have to make time for school and football. I need to get in the film room and watch film and also have time to get assignments done and that kind of stuff.”

At 6-foot, 186-pounds, Scholz was a beast on the Southern Buckeye Conference fields, racking up 112 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during his senior season. Scholz also played on the offensive side of the ball where he was a key cog in the Lions’ running game. Scholz ran for 423 yards and nine touchdowns.

While Scholz is enjoying his time on the practice field and in the film room learning the long snapper position, he is also working hard on getting reps at linebacker.

“Practices are fun and going smooth,” he said. “I’m really getting into the film room to learn my linebacker stuff so that next year I’ll be ready to go and hopefully I can be fighting for a linebacker spot to get on the field that way, too.”

Only in his first year at Ashland and enjoying a lot of team success, Scholz could draw some parallels between his new team and his old one.

“The work ethic that it takes to win and to be a successful team, we put in loads of work,” Scholz said. “We put in a bunch of work, loads of time in the weight room, loads of time at practice at New Richmond and it just continues up here. We have a great strength coach up here and he does a great job with our weight program up here. Our coaches are great, answering all the questions. It’s just the work ethic.”

Scholz’s connection with the Clermont County area has been technology-driven over the past few months with football and school making it difficult to get back home. Scholz said he still keeps up with what’s going on back home by texting, Facebook and Twitter.

Currently, Scholz is undecided on a major, but he wants to be a coach, so he’s looking into education and business.

One thing’s for sure, if Scholz coaches as hard as he plays, he will continue to have success.