For years and years, Colin Schooler and his brother, Brendan, dreamed of the day they would finally be able to suit up and play tackle football.

The two brothers used to rush up to the local high school to watch the junior varsity and freshmen games after their school day was over and serve as ball boys for the varsity games on Friday night.
 
They both wanted dearly to be between the lines, playing the game they love.
 
Finally, in middle school, the Schooler parents, Tom and Christine, allowed their boys to play tackle football.
 
"It was like Christmas in the summer," Colin recalls now.
 
The two were able to join the same team – the Saddleback Valley Chargers – and realize their dream.
 
So what happened next?
 
"We went 0-10 that year," Colin said laughing.
 
Of course, greatness doesn't always start at the jump. Schooler didn't let the winless first season deter his football ambitions and continued to play the game he developed the deepest love of. He played organized baseball, basketball, soccer and lacrosse before he ever played in a tackle football game, but chose the game he tried last for his future.
 
"Football became most natural to me," Schooler said. "The hitting was the most fun part. Especially being a little kid. Not being able to hit kids in the other sports—football was different. My brother felt the same way."
 
So football it was. Colin eventually starred at Mission Viejo High School and collected too many accolades to count, including two-time team captain, Orange County Defensive Player of the Year and being named a two-time All-CIF Southern Section selection.
 
But as his senior season winded down and he completed his high school career, Colin was still without a scholarship offer from a Power 5 program.
 
"I would describe it as very frustrating," Schooler said. "I would play against other teams with Division I players, and we'd win and they wouldn't do anything. I felt I was better than them. I didn't know the hold up. I'm still not over it. I don't think I ever will be. It feels good to outperform guys that were recruited over me. I still remind myself that very few coaches believed in me."
 
That ellusive offer came after the season thanks to Arizona. He mulled it over with his family for a week, before committing to the Wildcats.
 
"It was just a sense of relief that someone thought I could play at this level," Schooler said. "I don't know what the other schools thought I lacked or couldn't provide. But all you need is one spot, and I got that. I was so happy when I finally got that offer."
 
The rest – as you know – is history. In three years at Arizona, Schooler has become one of the most productive defensive players in program history. The linebacker enters his senior season with 312 career tackles, which already ranks in the top 15 in Arizona history. He's led the team in tackles each of the past two seasons and was the 2017 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
 
"I'm very happy it has worked out the way it has," Schooler said. "When I was on my first visit to Arizona, it felt a lot like home just in the sense of the people. The people made it feel like home, and they still do."