Podcast interview here with Crusaders’ bruising two-way star
One of the most decorated two-way players in Lancaster Catholic’s proud football history has made his college choice.
Nick Schmalhofer, a two-time All-State pick who helped the Crusaders reach the PIAA Double-A Final Four this past season, has accepted a full athletic scholarship to study and play football for the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H.
He will sign his national letter of intent on Feb. 4.
A dominating o-lineman and blitzing d-end, Schmalhofer picked UNH after making official visits to UNH, Eastern Michigan, Appalachian State and Stony Brook.
Schmalhofer also made unofficial visits to UConn and Purdue, and he also had athletic scholarship offers from Rhode Island, Western Carolina and Samford.
UNH competes in the Colonial Athletic Association along with Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Maine, UMass, Northeastern, Rhode Island, Richmond, Towson, Villanova and William & Mary.
The CAA is a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
The Wildcats have qualified for the NCAA playoffs the last five years in a row, and four times over that clip they’ve advanced to the quarterfinals – including last season, when UNH fell to Northern Iowa and finished its season 10-3 overall.
Head coach Sean McDonnell just completed his 10th season at the helm of the Wildcats, and UNH is 70-49 under his watch.
Schmalhofer took home a boatload of awards after Catholic won the Section 3 title and the District 3 Double-A championship last fall, before beating Mount Carmel in the first round of the state playoffs and falling to eventual state runner-up Philadelphia West Catholic in the state semifinals.
He was a Second-Team Associated Press All-State pick at defensive line; a two-way First-Team Section 3 All-Star; a Pennsylvania Football News All-State pick; an Eastern PA Football.com All-State pick; and he’ll play for the East team in the PSFCA East/West All-State Game in June.
I chatted with Nick about his decision to pick UNH.
You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above.
You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.
MORE MULTI-MEDIA
Schmalhofer puts a cap on Catholic’s season after loss to West Catholic
Schmalhofer chats about clinching Section 3 championship after win over Elco
