Julius Welschof
{{Short description|German gridiron football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Julius Welschof
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
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| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 45
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|3|12}}
| birth_place = Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 265
| high_school = FOS Altoetting
| college = {{ubl|Michigan (2018–2022)|Charlotte (2023)}}
| undraftedyear = 2024
| cfldraftyear = 2024G
| cfldraftround = 2
| cfldraftpick = 13
| pastteams =
- Munich Cowboys (2013–2016)
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
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}}
Julius Welschof (born March 12, 1997) is a German professional American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and Charlotte 49ers.
Early life
Welschof was born on March 12, 1997, in Germany.{{Cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/julius-welschof/23124|publisher=Michigan Wolverines|title=Julius Welschof}} He grew up in Miesbach, Bavaria, where he won youth championships in skiing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/146558826/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 17, 2022|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/146558944/ B8]|title=Euro Step|author=Sabin, Rainer}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/from-bavaria-freak-defensive-end-coming-georgia-tech/Ec3M9wQWTiZlB3fBEEsKjL/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|title=From Bavaria, a 'freak' defensive end is coming to Georgia Tech|date=December 15, 2017|author=Sugiura, Ken}} He attended the vocational high school (Fachoberschule, FOS) in Altötting and graduated from there.{{Cite web|url=https://michigan.rivals.com/news/michigan-football-signee-bio-defensive-end-julius-welschof|website=Rivals.com|title=Michigan Football Signee Bio: Defensive End Julius Welschof|date=December 20, 2017|author=Balas, Chris}}
After his graduation from high school, Welschof visited the United States in 2013, staying with a friend of his grandfather in Jacksonville, Florida.{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article287593595.html|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|url-access=subscription|title=German-born Charlotte 49ers defender hopes to join NFL after years away from his family|date=April 19, 2024|author=Kaye, Mike}} He was told of American football and received a suggestion that he might be good at the sport, something Welschof initially did not believe, due to being 16 years old at the time and never having played the sport. However, after watching a Jacksonville Jaguars practice, he "was hooked" and, upon returning to Germany, found a local club team, the Munich Cowboys, to play with.
A tight end, Welschof won Bavarian all-star honors in his first season. He later played defensive end as well. After four years at Munich, Welschof decided to try to get an athletic scholarship to play college football in the U.S.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2017/12/20/julius-welschof-michigan-wolverines-recruiting-germany-ppi|magazine=Sports Illustrated|author=Feldman, Bruce|title=Michigan's German D-Line Signee and the Trainer Who Believes Europe Has Many More Like Him|date=December 20, 2017}} He learned of a service run by former Canadian Football League (CFL) player Brandon Collier called Premier Players International, designed to get European players opportunities in college football.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/from-a-german-factory-to-georgia-tech-meet-an-unlikely-target-of-early-signing-day/2017/12/19/31105ab2-e4c5-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=From a German factory to Michigan: Meet an unlikely target of early signing day.|author=Stubbs, Roman|date=December 20, 2017|via=archive.ph|access-date=June 1, 2024|archive-date=May 3, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240503221429/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/from-a-german-factory-to-georgia-tech-meet-an-unlikely-target-of-early-signing-day/2017/12/19/31105ab2-e4c5-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html|url-status=bot: unknown}} Welschof contacted Collier and informed him of his measurements and ability to run a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, then later proved his abilities to a doubtful Collier on a field covered in snow in below-freezing temperatures.
In order to make enough money to attend camps in the U.S., Welschof worked as a manufacturer at a Krones factory and also took on another job renovating a house.{{Cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2017/12/22/um-recruit-german-born-factory-bred/108860496/|newspaper=The Detroit News|title=UM recruit Julius Welschof is German-born, factory-bred|date=December 22, 2017|author=Chengelis, Angelique S. }} Afterwards, he began receiving significant attention and received offers from a number of different programs, being ranked as the 12th-best defensive end recruit and a four-star prospect by 247Sports.{{Cite web|url=https://herosports.com/german-high-school-football-julius-welschof-recruiting-ahah/|website=HERO Sports|title=German Football Recruit Julius Welschof is Racking Up Scholarship Offers|date=June 20, 2017}} He initially committed to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, but later flipped to the Michigan Wolverines.{{Cite news|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2017/12/20/michigan-flips-german-de-julius-welschof-georgia-tech/108774934/|newspaper=The Detroit News|title=Michigan flips German DE Julius Welschof from Georgia Tech|date=December 20, 2017|author=Chengelis, Angelique S.}}
College career
Welschof redshirted as a true freshman at Michigan in 2018 and then appeared in one game during the 2019 season.{{Cite web|url=https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/football/roster/julius-welschof/10696|publisher=Charlotte 49ers|title=Julius Welschof}} In 2020, he appeared in all six games and totaled six tackles along with a half-sack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/08/two-michigan-players-among-top-athletic-freaks-in-college-football.html|website=MLive.com|title=Two Michigan players among top athletic 'freaks' in college football|author=Zuke, Ryan|date=August 10, 2021}} Entering the 2021 season, he was named to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic's "freaks" list, highlighting the most athletic college football players. In 2021, Welschof appeared in all 14 games, one as a starter, and tallied 13 tackles as well as one pass breakup. The following year, he appeared in all 14 games, mainly on special teams, and recorded six tackles, including being named Michigan's special teams player of the week following the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2022 season, ending his five-year stint at Michigan having totaled 25 tackles in 35 games played.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2023/01/03/michigan-football-julius-welschof-germany-transfer-portal/69774227007/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|title=Michigan football's Julius Welschof, Taylor Upshaw enter NCAA transfer portal|date=January 3, 2023|author=Alter, Marlowe}}
Hoping to see more playing time, Welschof transferred to the Charlotte 49ers for his final season of college football in 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/20/michigan-football-defender-makes-transfer-commitment/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Michigan football defender makes transfer commitment|date=January 20, 2023|author=Hole, Isaiah}} Joining coaches Biff Poggi and Ryan Osborn, both of whom he worked with at Michigan, Welschof won a starting role with the 49ers. However, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury four games into the year. He had totaled four tackles in the four games, each of which he started, prior to the injury. He ended his collegiate career with a total of 29 tackles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/julius-welschof-1.html|website=Sports-Reference.com|title=Julius Welschof College Stats}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6 5/8
| weight = 257
| dash = 4.82
| ten split = 1.64
| twenty split = 2.82
| shuttle = 4.40
| cone drill = 7.01
| vertical = 32.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022846&DraftYear=2024 |title=Julius Welschof College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=November 27, 2024}}
}}
Welschof returned from his injury in time to participate at the Charlotte pro day in front of National Football League (NFL) scouts, where he recorded a {{convert|10|ft|3|in}} broad jump.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/stats/Julius-Welschof-DL-Michigan |title=Julius Welschof Defensive Line - EDGE Charlotte - Pro day Stats |website=NFLDraftBuzz.com |access-date=November 27, 2024 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526052850/https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/stats/Julius-Welschof-DL-Michigan |url-status=bot: unknown }} After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent to play outside linebacker, being given the Steelers' international roster spot afforded to all teams as part of the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).{{Cite news|url=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/27/steelers-agree-terms-charlotte-julius-welschof-udfa-nfl-draft/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Steelers agree to terms with Charlotte UDFA OLB Julius Welschof|author=Koelher, ALlison|date=April 27, 2024}} He was also chosen in the second round (13th overall) of the 2024 CFL global draft by the Calgary Stampeders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stampeders.com/2024/04/30/stamps-pick-fullback-d-lineman-in-global-draft/|publisher=Calgary Stampeders|title=Stamps Pick Fullback, D-lineman In Global Draft|date=April 30, 2024}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, following a knee injury during a game in 2024 NFL preseason, and waived two days later with an injury settlement.{{cite web|title=Steelers trim 2024 roster to 53 players|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-trim-2024-roster-to-53-players|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/julius-welschof-let-go-with-injury-settlement/|work=CBS Sports|title=Julius Welschof: Let go with injury settlement|date=August 29, 2024}} He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 26.{{cite web|title=Steelers sign Welschof to practice squad|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-welschof-to-practice-squad|website=Steelers.com|date=November 26, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 14, 2025.{{cite web|title=Steelers sign 17 to Reserve/Future contracts|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-17-to-reserve-futures-contracts|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=January 14, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/julius-welschof/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
{{authority control}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welschof, Julius}}
Category:American football defensive linemen
Category:American football linebackers
Category:German players of American football
Category:Sportspeople from Upper Bavaria
Category:People from Miesbach (district)
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:Charlotte 49ers football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:International Player Pathway participants
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the United States