Football has always been in Peter Skoronski’s blood. His grandfather, Bob Skoronski, was a two-time Superbowl champion with the Green Bay Packers. Two Generations later, his grandson Peter joined the NFL player’s fraternity when he was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2023 draft by the Tenessee Titans. With his 6 foot 4 frame, Skoronski brings physicality and toughness to the offensive line, but it’s the intangibles he brings to the table that are most impressive.

Brains and Brawn 

Skoronski was a star on and off the field at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. The three-year letter-winner was dominant on the offensive line, recording 173 pancake blocks in three seasons,  helping his team secure back-to-back conference championships. Off the field, he excelled, graduating as Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA  in a class of over six hundred students.

A Wildcat 

After graduating high school, Skoronski chose Northwestern University, over powerhouse programs like Notre Dame, Stanford, and Penn State. When asked why he chose Northwestern, Skoronski pointed to the school’s prowess in the classroom and football field. 

“I just love the combination of academics and athletics,” he told 247sports. “I think it just came out that they have the highest graduation rate of any sport for any school. They’re also a great football team. They were in the Big Ten Championship last year and have won three-straight bowl games … It’s just a place I think I fit into well and I’m just happy to be able to go there, it’s a good spot for me as a person and a player.”

 Skoronski made an impact right away, starting for the Wildcats as a true freshman taking over for one of the best linemen in the country,  Rashawn Slater without skipping a beat. In his three-year career as a Wildcat, he dominated, going from a true freshman all-American to the school’s first-ever unanimous First Team All-American just two years later. By the end of his senior year, he would rank 5th in run blocking out of all five power offensive linemen and be an Outland Trophy finalist, an award that goes to the best college interior lineman on both sides of the ball.

The Next Step 

With all the success, Skoronski has succeeded at every level, both physically and academically, and now looks to carry that success to the Tenessee Titans organization this fall. When asked about his advice to a young player who wants to follow in his footsteps, his answer was: hard work and persistence. 

“You can’t really accomplish anything without hard work,” he told  Greater Than The Game. “Its the biggest thing to get you to where you want to be. Don’t give up and believe in yourself. That’s been the biggest thing for me, believing that I can do what I want to do and having the work ethic to back it up and accomplish my dreams.” 

Although Skoronski was the 11th overall pick in the draft this year, he is not taking anything for granted, telling GTTG that his ability to limit outside distractions has really helped him excel when surrounded by the nation’s top talent.

“I just focus on improving as a football player every day and not buying into the noise and the hype or anything like that and focusing on the football itself. That is a characteristic I have tried to have, and I think that has helped me with my success”. 

 Peter Skoronski is an excellent example of, as both athletes and people, we don’t have to be one-dimensional. We can thrive on the field, in the classroom, and in many facets of life if we block out the noise, work hard, and believe that we can!