Tony Scheffler attended Chelsea High School in Chelsea, Michigan where he played tight end on the football team. As a senior, Tony caught 67 passes for 1,340 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading the team to an 11-1 record. His 1,340 yards set the school record for single-season receiving yardage. Tony went on to Western Michigan where he sat out the 2001 season as a redshirt. The following season he caught 6 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown in limited action. He also averaged 14.3 yards per return as a return specialist. Tony got off to a great start in 2003, hauling in a 40 yard pass against Michigan State before injuring his shoulder, effectively ending his season. He returned to become the team’s second leading receiver as a junior, totaling 53 receptions for 570 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was named first team all-MAC for his play as a junior. His senior season was Tony’s best season in college. He set career highs in receptions (57), receiving yards (670), and touchdowns (9) on his way to all-MAC honors for the second consecutive season.

Tony Scheffler has been one of the most productive tight ends in the nation over the past two seasons. He has a great combination of size and speed for a tight end. He is an excellent receiver with soft hands. He runs good routes and is a great short to intermediate range target who will cause mismatches for opposing linebackers. In addition to catching the shorter passes, Scheffler does have the speed required to make plays down the field. Although he is a great pass-catching tight end, Tony needs to improve his blocking. He may need to bulk up and improve his strength to be more of a factor in the run game and he does have a great frame to work with. Tony Scheffler is still a bit raw, but he has a great deal of upside and should be a mid-round selection in the 2006 NFL draft.