There aren't many 6-foot-6, 248-pound freestyle mogul skiers, so Julius Welschof didn't have any issue standing out on the slopes in Germany. There are, however, a lot of 6-foot-6, 248-pound football players in the United States, yet he's is still turning heads.
Just weeks ago, Welschof, an avid skier in his native country, was aiming for one scholarship offer to play football in the United States. Now carrying five FBS offers, including his first Power Five offer received on Monday from Rutgers, the 2018 defensive end prospect is now on the radar of big-time programs.
MORE RECRUITING: Wyoming's Craig Bohl to 5-Star Players: 'We're Going to Knock the Sh*t Out of You'
"I am really fast and athletic in comparison to other athletes with my size," Welschof, who ran a 4.55 40-yard dash earlier this year, told HERO Sports.
Rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports and the 12th-ranked defensive end in the nation, Welschof also plays tight end and said he'll "play every position they want me to." He has also been offered by Eastern Michigan, Old Dominion, Temple and UMass, all in the last week.
Welschof's recruitment was launched by Premier Players International, an organization founded by former UMass player Brandon Collier that holds camps for international players and connects them with college football coaches. Welschof and Zavier Scott are their two elite players in the 2018 class. Scott, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound American-born receiver who lives in Germany, ran a 4.38 at the Ohio State camp this summer and carries offers from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Syracuse and UMass.
"They do a great job of helping us," said Welschof. "They also have many college connections so it makes it easier for guys like me."
Except there aren't many guys like him. Only a handful of German-born athletes have played in the FBS recently and less than 100 all-time.
This summer Welschof has already attended camps at Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State and other schools, and because of the overwhelming success, he may add more stops in the southwest. While it remains unclear what Welschof must do to qualify academically by 2018, it's very clear his stock will only continue to grow.
"Many other schools," he says of schools who have not offered a scholarship but have expressed interest, "especially the d-line coaches are very interested in me but they have to talk to their head coach first."
Last year, Welschof practiced with the Munich Cowboys of the German Football League, and may do so again in 2017, though that could change depending on college interest, visits and an eventual commitment. He plans to take officials visits with his family this fall but has not named finalists or set a decision date.
I'd be lying if I pretended I wasn't hoping for a two-sport offer from Colorado or Utah for football and skiing.
