Opening day of the 2010 College Football season is on the horizon. The Florida Gator football team would love to follow up a successful 2009 campaign, one in which culminated in a heartbreaking loss to the rival Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship game with yet another title run.

There are 70 short days left before the Season Opener. The young man who proudly wears number 70 is Shawn Schmieder, a redshirt senior offensive tackle from Jacksonville, Florida.

A Biology Major at UF, Schmieder graduated from Bishop J. Snyder High School where his athletic talents didn’t end with football. He played defensive end and offensive tackle for the football team. He also lifted weights, ran track and played on the basketball team all the while becoming the Salutatorian of his senior class.

After enrolling at the University of Florida in 2007, Schmieder walked on to the football team in the summer of the same year and as a redshirt freshman. He dressed for five games on the season and was named the Scout Team Player of the Week when Gators played the Auburn Tigers.

Schmieder followed up his freshman season with his most successful to date, dressing for all but two games against Tennessee and Arkansas. He saw action as a substitute in games versus Kentucky, South Carolina and The Citadel. Once again, he was awarded the Scout Team Player of the Week for his efforts in the week of the Season Opener against Hawaii.

2009 was Schmieder’s most successful, yet frustrating season of his college career. Despite only dressing for 6 games on the season, he was able to see the field on two occasions, as a substitute in victories against Charleston Southern and FIU. He was an All SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll Selection for his hard work in the classroom where he posted a stellar 3.69 GPA.

Entering his redshirt senior season, Schmieder hopes to have a more active role on the team. The consummate team player, he agreed to make a position change to the defensive line during Spring Training.

Schmieder has kept a low profile off the field while standing out on the practice field and in the classroom. Gator Sports Nation is proud to have Shawn Schmieder kick off the Countdown to the Season Opener.

-Justin Yerina