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Position: FB
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 220
Hometown: Richmond, Va
High School: Deep Run HS
Year: RS Senior
Skrobacz was a LB at Deep Run HS who did not garner much interest from colleges. He was a big contributor at LB, averaging over 100 tackles during his junior and senior years. He walked on to the Hoos in 2009, under then head coach Al Groh. Not nearly big enough nor athletic enough to play LB in a 3-4, he was slotted at FB. Like many college FB, it was simply a place to put a football player without a position. His real position, at the time, was special teams.
After a redshirt season, Skrobacz saw time on the field as a true freshman. Much of that was special teams, but he also saw sporadic time at FB. That team had Max Milien at FB, but he was really just a bigger RB, and not much of a blocker. Skrobacz, along with another former LB (Terrence Fells-Danzler) saw time as a blocking FB. Skrobacz even had a single reception, for 3 yards, against Virginia Tech.
Then, as a sophomore, he was now working under new head coach Mike London. He didn't play a single play that year. Last year, however, Skrobacz saw action in every game, mostly on special teams, but also as a blocking FB. The team didn't have a real FB, and was forced moved Zachary Swanson to FB. Swanson, however, wasn't much of a blocker there either, as he played in an H-back role. Skrobacz again saw time as a blocking back.
He performed so well there, that he earned a scholarship for this season. He's listed as the starting FB, although there are a number of candidates there. The Hoos moved former DE/LB Vincent Croce to FB, but he's still learning the nuances of the position. True freshman Connor Wingo-Reeves has also been slotted at FB, and the staff is high on him. But neither of those guys, nor any other FBs on the roster) has ever played the position before. Skrobacz has, and that is why he's on top of the depth chart.
Skrobacz is a tough, physical player, who has no problem sticking his nose in against bigger DLs and LBs. He isn't the biggest guy, nor the fastest, but his short stature means he can often get leverage against the bigger guys. That is really what is needed in a blocking FB. As a weapon in the offense, Croce or Wingo-Reeves are going to be better. But in a short yardage situation, when you need a guy to lead block, Skrobacz is the guy.