Cretin's Joe Schafer Gets Recruiting Interest

Joe Schafer, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound offensive tackle from St. Paul (MN) Cretin Derham Hall, appears to be the latest in the line of standout Raider offensive linemen. Schafer helped lead his team to a 10-1 mark and runner-up finish in Section 4, Class AAAAA. GoldenSports.Net recently caught up with Schafer to learn the latest of his recruitment.

Joe Schafer is hoping that he can be the latest Cretin lineman to move on to the Division I level, joining former Raiders Matt Carufel (Notre Dame), Ned Tavale (Minnesota), Raef Eubanks (Iowa) and Ryan Harris (Notre Dame).

Schafer said that he has offers from Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Central Florida, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Schafer has been invited to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa summer football camps and is still making his decisions on what camps to attend.

"I'm sill thinking about it, but I'd say Notre Dame, Michigan and possibly Iowa."

Schafer played for the Cretin basketball team this winter. He started at center early this season when Broderick Binns was sidelined with a thigh bruise, but moved to the bench with Binns healthy. He feels that the teamwork they showed will help this year on the gridiron.

"I think that more than half of our players are football players. We just go from football to basketball. We like to have fun. We have good camaraderie. I think basketball helps with footwork, quickness and to stay in shape.

Basketball teammates Michael Floyd and John Nance have been offered scholarships by Minnesota.

With the season over, Shafer said that he has spent more time in the weight room.

"I'm lifting a little more. I have track right now. I just started that. I'm trying to lift weights four times a week, getting in after track and on the weekends."

Schafer is hoping to impress on his shot put and discus results this season.

"Last year was my first year. I think that I threw 42 in the shot and 117 in the discus. I'd like to throw 150 in the discus and 50 in the shot," he said.

Schafer said that the events help him a bit in football, but he is honest about why he is in track and field.

"Mostly, it's something to do in the spring. It keeps me busy."