CALEDONIA – Payton Schott admits his life is very bad right now.
Hell, it’s hard to argue with him.
The former Caledonia High School football player and wrestler lives in Rosemount and has studied at ETS Performance since graduating in December after a successful football career in St. Petersburg. John’s. Olaf College: A career that saw him rack up 1,476 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 receptions.
He has constant clashes with NFL players Adam Thielen and CJ Ham, both partners and running in ETS. Of course, they also know how to make a career in a small school. Thielen (MSU, Mankato) and Ham (Augustana) played at the Division II level, before making a big time.
It’s the first part of Schott’s day, and the second part is spent working part-time for State Farm Insurance. All in all, it’s not a bad gig.
“It’s been amazing,” Schott said. The last six months have been great. . . My life has been pretty simple lately. I work out in the morning and then paint for about 4 hours. I’m living my dream right now. “
This dream will now come to Cottbus, Germany, in the coming weeks.
Just a month ago, he announced that Schott would be one of four foreign players signed through Cottbus Crayfish of the German Football League 2, the second-highest division of American football in Germany.
As a foreign importer, Schott gets an apartment, food, a car to use, and an additional allowance at most. The first game of the season will take place on June 1 and the season will run through September.
Last year was a memorable one for the club, as the Crayfish celebrated their 30th season with promotion back to GFL2, with an 11-1 record. The goal of each and every GFL 2 team is to succeed in the first division, the GFL. The Crayfish believe Schott provides them with a wonderful opportunity.
“We are very pleased to welcome Payton Schott to the Cottbus Crayfish,” said Cottbus Head Coach Jörg Steudtner. “Their joy and skill will certainly help us achieve our goals and deliver exciting football to our fans. “
Schott will also paint with many other young people from Cottbus.
The Crayfish are proud to teach football to as many people as possible. The club offers systems for those who need to be informed about the game from the age of 6. Part of the players’ duty is to contribute to those systems. . Schott, as an American, will no doubt be very popular.
American football has been booming in Germany for years. The NFL estimates there are 19 million American football fans, more than the 14. 3 million in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The football aspect played a key role in the decision, but the opportunity to enjoy and delight in another culture was very exciting for Schott, an economics student.
“I’m very grateful for that,” he said. We only exercise a few days a week, then two more days we help the youngsters. A lot of those guys who imported have a general job, they just do it on the look for todos. de those teams, and you get 4 imported players. So, right now, I know it’s me, a Colorado (backback), a running back from Poland and then some other receiver from the United Kingdom.
“. . . I’m so excited to meet everyone. It’s great, right now I’m talking to the kid from Poland on Snapchat and it’s kind of surreal to see us connecting from all over the world. . . . . Our kicker in college, his father went to St. Petersburg. John’s. Olaf interned in Germany and painted all over the world for a while, so he explained to me the ins and outs of Germany and what to expect. Even with the football opportunity, I think it would be great to paint all over the world, so it’s the best solution. “
The goal of better compatibility began to take shape last spring, when Schott asked himself why not see where football could take him.
“I wanted to try to shoot,” he said. Let’s see where I can take this total football. “
One of his coaches helped him with advice.
He then trained at TNT Academy in Maple Grove twice a week during the summer. According to the gym’s website, NFL players such as former University of Minnesota star Rashod Bateman and Baltimore Ravens bowler Mark Andrews have practiced at the facility.
Schott entered his final season at St. Olaf with more confidence than ever.
This has been noticed on the ground. He led the Oles with 48 receptions, 814 yards and receiving touchdowns.
I hoped it would be enough to justify some kind of professional day. He attended a camp in Florida, but the weather canceled most of the exercises. So he signed up for the Europlayers website, a network that allows European teams to locate American players.
That’s the crayfish.
Today he discovers that he is learning German.
“I’m doing Duolingo,” he said. But I only know five words. “
He amassed everything imaginable before departing on April 7. He hopes to travel to other neighboring countries and hopes his circle of family members can come and see him as well.
The Crayfish also stream their games on their YouTube channel.
All in all, this is the experience of a lifetime for the Caledonian native.
“I was very excited when they called me,” Schott said. I had to take advantage of the opportunity. “